Policy Text
KISSIMMEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
General Order 119 – Professional Development
Page 1 of 5 TITLE: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 119
EFFECTIVE: 07/09/2020 REVISED: 09/26/2025 SCOPE : ALL EMPLOYEES
REVIEW AUTHORITY: ADMINISTRATIVE BUREAU DEPUTY CHIEF
CFA STANDARDS: N/A
119.01 Guidelines
119.02 Career Development Options
119.03 In-House Professional Development Assignments
119.04 Monitoring Progress
Policy: Professional development and career management are key factors in maintaining career
advancement and job satisfaction within the Kissimmee Police Department. The Department
provides training and development opportunities to improve member knowledge, skills, and
abilities. While the Department is responsible fo r providing training and educational opportunities,
employees are equally responsible for managing their own career based upon personal priorities
and long -term career goals.
119.01 Guidelines: The Kissimmee Police Department defines professional development as the
continued training and education in furtherance of a career. One of the primary goals of
professional development is to keep an employee up -to-date on current trends in their career f ield
and to develop new skills for the purpose of advancement both inside and outside of the
organization.
Supervisors shall assist employees in the development and attainment of their career goals and
objectives. This includes all ranks of supervision: Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy
Chief, and Chief. The employee’s immediate supervisor shall serve as a career counselor, and
provide career guidance to employees, when applicable. A Sergeant and Corporal shall share the
responsibility of as sisting their subordinates with professional development. During the
employee’s evaluation process the employee and their supervisor shall discuss the employee’s
career goals and objectives. Supervisors shall create a personal development plan for their
subordinates designed to best prepare the employee to achieve their career goals and objectives.
Career planning discussions shall occur during the employee’s annual evaluation. In addition,
career planning discussions may also occur at any time throughout the year if requested by the
employee or supervisor.
Career planning discussions should include the following:
a. Establishing and/or reviewing progress toward the employee’s career goals and objectives;
KISSIMMEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
General Order 119 – Professional Development
Page 2 of 5 b. Identifying and setting a timeline for the employee’s professional development goals;
c. Reviewing of the employee’s training record;
d. Discuss advanced training if employee has not attended any courses; and
e. Discussing a tentative schedule of available outs ide or in -house training opportunities.
Professional Development will be managed by the employee’s assigned supervisor; Sergeant or
above. All Lieutenants will assist in monitoring their assigned subordinate’s progress, and offer
guidance to the employee and supervisor. Lieutenants shall provide their division Captain’s semi -
annual updates on their subordinate’s progress. These updates shall be recorded by the division
lieutenant in a memo. If an employee is assigned to a new supervisor, the employee’s ne w
supervisor shall meet with the employee’s previous supervisor to review the employee’s career
development goals and objectives. This will prepare the new supervisor to discuss career
development goals with the employee throughout the year or at the emplo yee’s annual evaluation.
Professional development and advancement within an agency are affected by an employee’s
professional demeanor, personal drive, willingness to accept feedback, desire to improve, and their
commitment to the agency and law enforc ement as a profession. Professional development will
focus on all areas of an employee’s development and shall not be limited to promotions or
particular assignments within the agency. Below are some key areas for the supervisor to consider
when discussing and identifying professional development goals:
Professional Characteristics
• Active Listening
• Communication Skills
• Life Experience
• Maturity
• Motivation
• Professional Demeanor
Professional Development
• Formal Education
• Professional Interests (Specialty Unit, Supervision, Training, Professional Standards)
• Professional Networking
• Productivity
• Skills & Abilities
• Professional Strengths
• Training
119.02 Career Development Options: Employees shall have multiple options av ailable to them
to aid in their professional development. These options include, but are not limited to , the
KISSIMMEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
General Order 119 – Professional Development
Page 3 of 5 following: advanced training opportunities, personal mentoring, professional development
assignments approved by chain of command, specialty team’s participation, committee/board
membership, public speaking/presenting, community service, and agency engagement. The
employee and their supervisor, shall identify areas in which the employee would most benefit for
career development and make efforts to pr ovide those opportunities to the employee.
Advanced training opportunities allow members to expand their knowledge in areas including;
operations, investigations, prevention, policy (writing and auditing), budgeting etc. Employees and
supervisors should consider advanced training opportunities when discussing professional
development.
Personal mentoring should be conducted by all senior employees and staff within the Department.
Employees who have successfully completed their training program and are as signed to their initial
solo assignment can choose to be assigned a personal mentor during the first year of their
employment. Mentors for sworn personnel shall be another sworn officer in good standing with at
least three ( 3) or more years of sworn law en forcement. Civilian employees may select a sworn or
civilian employee in good standing as a mentor. The mentor shall maintain regular communication
with the newly assigned