Teaching How to Take Suspects into Custody: Law Enforcement Training at Husson University

Published on: May 19, 2019

BANGOR, MAINE - The G. Peirce Webber Campus Center in Peabody Hall on the campus of Husson University in Bangor, Maine will be the site for Mechanics of Arrest, Restraint and Control (MARC) training for aspiring law enforcement professionals on Monday, May 20, 2019 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Wednesday, May 22, 2019 from 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. This session is part of the Law Enforcement Pre-Service Training offered by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and is specifically designed for individuals interested in working as reserve law enforcement officers. 

In addition to focusing on the mechanics of an arrest, this hands-on training session will address the situational use of force, demonstrate the proper use of handcuffs and teach law enforcement professionals how to prevent suspects from getting control of an officer’s firearm.

“The training and education these students receive during the Phase II program is critical to their success and professional development as law enforcement officers. The tactics and techniques they are learning will help ensure their personal safety, as well as the safety of the citizens they will be interacting with,” said Michael Kamorski, EdD, an assistant professor at Husson University School of Legal Studies. “These young men and women will very soon be serving communities all over the state of Maine. The training they have received during Phase II will allow them to serve and protect the public with confidence, competence, and professionalism.” 

To qualify for Phase II training, individuals must complete 40 hours of online training, pass a background check, pass the ALERT exam, and meet the necessary physical fitness requirements.

The 80 hours of Phase II training consists of:

• Interactive scenarios based on classroom education including instruction on investigative procedures. This will take place in Husson University’s Kominsky Auditorium.
• Hands-on training about the mechanics of an arrest and the situational use of force.

Assistant Professor Kamorski, Assistant Professor and Director of the School of Legal Studies John Michaud, and Adjunct Professor Eugene Fizell are the site coordinators for this educational event. Instructors for the classes are provided by Region V law enforcement agencies. The training is supported by the Region V Chiefs of Police.

Over the past decade, numerous students have gone through this training. Husson University students who complete Phase I and Phase II training are eligible to receive six credit hours toward their degree.

Phase III focuses on field training and is administered by the agency hiring a reserve officer. 

Phase I – III are part of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Law Enforcement Pre-Service Training Program. In 1989, the 114th Maine Legislature passed laws mandating that the Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy establish standards for pre-service training. The purpose of this mandate was to ensure that no person could “serve as a law enforcement officer with the power to make arrests or the authority to carry a firearm until certified as satisfying pre-service training requirements.” This resulted in the three-part Law Enforcement Officer Pre-Service Training Program.

The Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA) serves the people of Maine by promoting the highest level of professional standards and performance through the training of criminal justice personnel. To achieve this the MCJA strives to: merit public confidence in the criminal justice system; provide high quality training; promote a work environment of mutual respect, support and trust; advance policies and procedures developed in the interest of public safety and service; and encourage cooperation and coordination among criminal justice agencies. For more information, visit Maine.gov/dps/mcja/index.shtml.

For more than 120 years, Husson University has prepared future leaders to handle the challenges of tomorrow through innovative undergraduate and graduate degrees. With a commitment to delivering affordable classroom, online and experiential learning opportunities, Husson University has come to represent superior value in higher education. Our Bangor campus and off-campus satellite education centers in Southern Maine, Wells, and Northern Maine provide advanced knowledge in business; health and education; pharmacy studies; science and humanities; as well as communication. In addition, Husson University has a robust adult learning program. According to a recent tuition and fee analysis by U.S. News & World Report, Husson University is the most affordable private college in New England. For more information about educational opportunities that can lead to personal and professional success, visit Husson.edu.