WMATA Launches In-House Police Training Academy

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA/Metro) Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) recently welcomed the inaugural class of the new MTPD Criminal Justice Academy.

Previously, MTPD outsourced a criminal justice academy to train recruits, but creating its own training academy will save the agency nearly $1 million a year, which includes fees that were paid to other training facilities and personnel costs.

The academy will host three classes a year, instead of two previously. MTPD staff will be able to focus heavily on transit policing and training specific to Metro, while still meeting training objectives established by the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

In addition to these objectives, recruits will receive training in community engagement, de-escalation, crisis intervention, and civil disturbance.

Each recruit session includes eight months of training, followed by an additional 10 weeks of field training. The inaugural class is made up of 24 recruits from throughout the region.