Indian Police Academy | Indian Affairs

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The United States Indian Police Academy is the premier training delivery organization for Indian Country! Established as the U.S. Indian Police Training and Research Center, the Academy opened in Roswell, New Mexico, on the site of a former Air Force base on December 17, 1968. The Academy began training law enforcement officers from throughout the United States who serve tribal communities. The Academy soon expanded to provide specialized training for supervisors, juvenile officers, criminal investigators, and detention personnel. By 1971, the Academy was involved in assisting and/or conducting field in-service training as necessary for specialized subjects. Over the years, the Acadamy has been located in Brigham City, UT and Marana, AZ. In January 1993, the Academy relocated to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, New Mexico, the current location of the Academy. The Indian Law Enforcement Officer Memorial was also relocated to the center. In 2020, the academy opened the Advanced Training Center (ATC) on Camp Grafton, North Dakota, to deliver specialized advanced training in criminal investigation, drug enforcement, and command school programs. The academy continues to coordinate training provided at FLETC-Glynco and exported to Indian Country departments.

Indian Country Police Officer Training Program (ICPOTP)

The Indian Country Police Officer Training Program (ICPOTP) is the basic training program for law enforcement officers who are charged with enforcing law, regulations, and violations on Indian and Tribal Lands. The ICPOTP is 13.5 weeks in length and contains 575.5 hours of instruction and 22 hours of administrative time, for a program total of 597.50 hours. The ICPOTP is designed to progressively develop law enforcement officers with core courses in report writing, court testimony, federal and tribal criminal law and application, emergency response driving, basic marksmanship, drugs of abuse, human trafficking, domestic violence, victim services, community policing, arrest techniques, and other law enforcement duties in Indian Country. The training also includes conducting laboratory and practical exercise in simulated field settings.

ICPOTP Requirements:

Must have successfully met background investigation/adjudication requirements.
Must have been employed by a recognized law enforcement program as a police officer/criminal investigator OR conservation enforcement officer, with full powers of arrest in federal or tribal jurisdiction.
Applicant is at least 21 years of age (or in case of tribal police, applicant will be 21 years of age by the completion of the basic training program)
Applicant has successfully passed a medical examination and has an OF-178 on file.

ICPOTP Training Schedule *note: dates are subject to change

July 15, 2024 – October 11, 2024
October 21, 2024 – January 27, 2025
January 6, 2025 – April 7, 2025
April 7, 2025 – July 8, 2025
July 14, 2025 – October 10, 2025

For more information regarding ICPOTP, please email usipatraining@bia.gov

Indian Country Corrections Officer Training Program (ICCOTP)

Indian Country Corrections Officer Training Program (ICCOTP) is designed to educate BIA and Tribal Correctional Officers with basic techniques while assigned to a facility on federal or tribal lands. The program is designed to develop skills and core competencies of correctional officers in preparation of working in correctional environment. It includes instructor led classroom instruction and physical fitness courses to strengthen officer safety and security. The program achieves the BIA training standard for BIA and Tribal Correctional Officers. ICCOTP consists of four written exams, labs, and practical exercises. ICCOTP is six weeks in length. By the end of the sixth week, ICCOTP will complete 252 hours of correctional officer training evaluated by written examinations, hands-on labs, and pass/fail practical exercises. Complete courses in Policy and Procedures, Correctional Security, Use of Force, Communication, Intake Procedures, Rights of Inmates, Suicide Prevention, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), Medication Protocols, Drug Awareness, Interviewing, Defensive Tactics, Baton, CPR, OC, and more. They successfully completed 10 hours of legal subjects, 24 hours of physical fitness, and 7.2 mile Rattlesnake Run.

ICCOTP Requirements:

Applicant is 18 years of age.
Must have a current VALID driver’s license.
Must have successfully met background investigation/adjudication requirements.
Must be employed by a recognized Tribal Corrections Program in a Corrections position or a BIA Corrections facility.

ICCOTP Training Schedule *note: dates are subject to change

October 7, 2024 - November 19, 2024

January 6 , 2025 - February 18, 2025

April 7, 2025 - May 16, 2025

July 14, 2025 - August 22, 2025

For more information regarding ICCOTP, please email usipatraining@bia.gov

Basic Telecommunications Operator Training Program (BTOTP) – VIRTUAL

The United States Indian Police Academy in partnership with PowerPhone, developed an online course to meet the needs of Dispatchers in Indian Country. PowerPhone assisted emergency management along with emergency response professional's in recognizing new possibilities for success along with providing expertise in call handling throughout the world. This course provides technology, resources, and training to increase PSAP efficiency along with allowing emergency communication professionals to perform their job at the highest level which empowers the public safety industry to set and strengthen its highest standard of care.

BTOTP Informative Course Topics:

Non-Emergency Call Handling
Protecting Law Enforcement Responders
Active Shooting Response
Hostage Negotiations
Domestic Violence Intervention
Your Role in Suicide Intervention
911 Liability
Disasters & the Dispatcher
Stress Identification & Management

BTOTP Training Schedule *note: dates are subject to change

March 2025 TBA
July 2025 TBA

For more information regarding BTOTP, please email usipatraining@bia.gov

Basic Police Officer Bridge Training Program (BPOBTP)

The Basic Police Officer Bridge Training Program consists of Federal Law, 4th Amendment, Use of force and Indian Country Criminal Jurisdiction. The Bridge training program also covers BIA specific courses, Missing Persons, Arrest Techniques, Defensive tactics, Children/elderly abuse, high risk traffic stops, understanding of the BIA weapons qualification.

BPOBTP Bridge Requirements:

Must have completed a recognized police officer training program.
Must have been employed as a sworn police officer and not have been out of employment as a sworn officer exceeding three (3) years.
Must submit curriculum and hours of training documentation.
The Academy reviews the completed content specific to the core standards of the BIA Indian Country Police Officer Training Program. The content of the curriculum must meet the minimum core federal training requirements for the BIA Office of Justice Services.

BPOBTP Training Schedule

October 21, 2024 – November 7, 2024

For more information regarding BPOBTP, please email usipatraining@bia.gov

United States Indian Police Academy – Advanced Training Center

Devils Lake, North Dakota

The Advanced Training Center is located on the North Dakota Nation Guard – Camp Grafton Training Center located South of Devils Lake, North Dakota and just North of Fort Totten, North Dakota. For further information regarding Exports, Virtual classes or classes at USIPA-ATC, please contact Training Specialist Jani Adams at jani.adams@bia.gov

Advanced Training Center Training Calendar

*Dates are subject to change*

September 2024

3-6, 2024 Advanced Crisis Management – Advanced Peer Support

11-12, 2024 Indian Country White Collar Crime – Artesia, NM

9-12, 2024 Basic Tactical Medical Instructor Training Program

17-19, 2024 Export: Detention Facility Policies & Procedures – Nisqually – Olympia, WA

16-20, 2024 Strategies of Low Light Engagements Instructor Course

24-26, 2024 Export: Corrections In-Service – Rosebud, SD

23-27, 2024 Pathfinder Level 1: Foundations

October 2024

15-17, 2024 Detention Guidelines @ Rosebud, SD (FULL)