Policy Text
Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (03/12 /2019 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
INSTRUCTIONAL ORDER
Subject: CAREER DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Index as: Career Counseling In-service Training Specialty Training
Career Development Activities Proficiency Training Succession Planning
Accreditation Standards: 15.1.4 , 33.8.1, 33.8.2, 33.8.3 , 33.8.4, 35.1.7
Cross Reference: G.O. II -16, Employee Travel
G.O. II -27, Promotions
G.O. II -32, Specialized Assignments
I.O. V.5:14, Performance Evaluation
City of St. Petersburg, Tuition Reimbursement Policy and Procedures
§943.22 , F.S.S.
Replaces : I.O. V.5:13, Career Development Program (April 6, 2000)
Traini ng Division SOP III -4, Career Counseling Activities ( August 28, 2017)
This Order explains procedures for career development activities and related career counseling, in -service training and
educational incentives. It consists of the following sections:
I. Policy
II. Definitions
III. Administration
IV. Succession Planning
V. Procedures
I. POLICY
A. It is the policy of the St. Petersburg Police Department to provide opportunities for individual growth through career
development activities and in-service training.
B. Employees are encouraged to achieve a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university
to gain a more thorough understanding of society, communicate more effectively and engage in the exploration of new ideas
and concepts.
C. Succession Planning is a major aid to the continuity of management . To that end, the Department maintains a
succession plan for the development of command and executive leadership roles within the organization. It provides
development opportun ities and career pathways within the Department to maximize learning and development investment.
II. DEFINITIONS
A. Career Counseling – The relationship (process) between Supervisor or trained counselor and employee that is
designed to facilitate an employee's career choices, comprehension of career goals, and achievement of career goals
through meaningful and well -informed choices. Topics such as advancement, specialization, or training appropriate for the
employee’s position may be discussed.
DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
August 2017 Immediately V.5:13
Distribution: All Employees
Instructional Order V.5:13
Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (03/12 /2019 ) B. Caree r Development Activities – An organized and supervised set of duties or functions designed to stimulate
learning, e.g., counseling, training, job rotations.
C. In-Service Training – Formal instruction designed to enhance the skills, knowledge and abilities required of the
employee's present assignment (proficiency training), as well as to provide the skills, knowledge and abilities required in
specialized areas (specialty training). Furthermore, in -service training provides instruction in post -promotion skill
development and management concepts and practices.
D. Succession Planning – A plan to ensure leadership continuity of the organization and maintain stability within
agency operations.
III. ADMINISTRATION
A. The Training Division shall administer and coordinate Department -sponsored career development activities and in -
service training.
B. The Training Division shall coordinate training of Supervisors to assist them in their career counseling
responsibilities. Such training may include the following:
1. General counseling techniques;
2. Techniques for assessing skills, knowledge and abilities;
3. Salary, benefits and traini ng opportunities of the agency;
4. Educational opportunities and incentive programs;
5. Awareness of the cultural background of ethn ic groups of persons counseled;
6. Record -keeping techniques;
7. Career development programs of other jurisdictions; and
8. Availability of outside resources.
C. The Training Division shall make in -service training information easily accessible to employees. Announcements of
courses will be distributed to all members via an email announcement .
D. Employees receiving a certificate of training directly from the training source agency shall forward a copy of the
certificate to the Training Division where it will be placed into the employee’s training record.
E. The Training Division will maintain records of in -service training courses completed by each employee.
F. Any employee may request to review his/her training files by contacting the Police Training Specialist and making
an appointment.
G. The relevant results of these meetings shall be summarized and forwarded to the Commander of the Training
Division, who will consider them when planning future training programs.
H. Career counseling activities involve formal guidance to assist an officer to choose, prepare for, enter or progress in
a job as signment through the following:
1. Assessment of the skills, knowledge and a bilities of the officer.
2. Inventory of the requirements of the job assignment.
3. Awareness of relevant training opportunities.
Instructional Order V.5:13
Revisions or additions are highlighted 3 (03/12 /2019 ) 4. Career counseling activities provide guidance only; no officer is guaranteed an assignment by following any
career development prescription that may emerge from the meetings.
IV. SUCCESSION PLANNING
A. The Department maintains a Succession Plann ing to ensure for the development of command and execu tive
leadership to include, Assistant Chiefs, Chief’s Management Staff, Majors, Division Managers, Lieutenants, Sergeants, and
Civilian Supervisor positions.
B. Procedures
1. It is the Supervisor’s responsibility to provide career counseling to subordinates. Supervisors shall document
career development activities in the Performance