Police Applicant Background Investigation

This comprehensive training program equips participants with the essential knowledge and abilities to execute fair, comprehensive, and legally defensible background investigations for police applicants in alignment with professional agency standards.

The course curriculum guides attendees through applicable federal and state legislation, recent judicial precedents, and relevant administrative rules governing personnel selection and employment. Participants will examine federal and state employment protection statutes, accessible government records laws, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission standards, and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, as well as their practical implications for applicant screening and hiring decisions.

Students will gain practical expertise in utilizing online research tools and databases most effective for gathering background information, understanding components of psychological evaluations, implementing lawful drug testing protocols, and employing effective questioning strategies when interviewing applicants, character references, prior employers, and community members. The course also emphasizes best practices for compiling investigation results into well-organized, factual reports.

A hands-on simulation exercise concludes the training, allowing participants to practice the complete applicant background investigation process in a realistic scenario.

Course Topics

• Background investigator responsibilities and role
• Job dimension identification
• Background investigation policies and protocols
• Legal considerations in background investigations
• ADA implications for hiring practices
• Psychological assessment procedures
• Veteran preference regulations
• Drug screening procedures
• Information sources and research databases
• Investigation procedures and methodologies
• Effective interviewing approaches
• Objective and factual report documentation
• Practical exercise simulation

Target Audience

This course is designed for public safety professionals, law enforcement officers, corrections personnel, human resources staff, and communications employees participating in employment screening, applicant assessment, candidate interviews, background investigation processes, or hiring decisions. The program is restricted to law enforcement personnel, both sworn and civilian.

Course Details

Duration: 40 hours

Class Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Fee: $895.00

Scheduled Sessions

October 19-23, 2026 – Jacksonville, Florida
Location: Adam W. Herbert University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224
Instructors: Steven Hall, Jessica Ryan

December 7-11, 2026 – Jacksonville, Florida
Location: Adam W. Herbert University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224
Instructors: Adrian Arnold, Ralph Draper

February 22-26, 2027 – Sarasota, Florida
Location: Sarasota Police Department, 3rd Floor Training Room, 2099 Adams Lane, Sarasota, FL 34237

March 29 - April 2, 2027 – Jacksonville, Florida
Location: Adam W. Herbert University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224

August 2-6, 2027 – Altamonte Springs, Florida
Location: Altamonte Springs Police Department, Training Room, 225 Newburyport Avenue, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701

September 20-24, 2027 – Jacksonville, Florida
Location: Adam W. Herbert University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224

December 13-17, 2027 – Jacksonville, Florida
Location: Adam W. Herbert University Center, 12000 Alumni Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224