Changes are needed with the Special Conservator of the Peace program in the areas of training and authorization in wearing & displaying the wording “Police” on badges and uniforms. If a SCOP Officer is granted general police powers pursuant to his or her court orders equivalent to a law enforcement officer who has full police powers pursuant to State Code and their local ordinances and performing the same duties & functions of a law enforcement officer within the jurisdiction or area of property as authorized by Circuit Court, they should at least be required to complete the minimum of 8 to 10 weeks of a 26 week basic law enforcement academy and complete a minimum of 60 hours of field training with an experienced field training officer from the law enforcement agency within the SCOP Officer’s jurisdiction so that they are better trained to perform general police functions competently. A law enforcement officer is required to complete close 500 hours training, followed by approxiamtely 120 hours of FTO before being released to perform his or her duties. The current 24 hour classroom training, along with the 16 hour firearms instruction is not sufficient training for an individual who is given the lawful authority by the Code of Virginia and from a branch of government, being the Circuit Court, to take a person’s freedom or their life under the laws of the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The Virginia Fire Marshal’s Training Academy for local fire marshals is approximately 10 weeks, which coordinated through DCJS along with the VA Dept of Fire Programs. Although, there are some localities that will send their fire marshal’s to a police academy for training.  As far as the wording on the badges and shoulder patches, unless the SCOP completes a full police academy, they should not display “Police” on badges or uniforms.  The appropriate title should be either “Special Police”, “Peace Officer”, “Officer”, or “Special Conservator of the Peace” due to the fact that are so many changes in procedures for law enforcement officers in handling incidents,  such as;  domestics, warrantless searches of persons & properties, use of force, juveniles, responding to crime scenes, crime reporting and arrests procedures, a SCOP wearing the title “Police”, performing police duties equivalent to a law enforcement officer and not properly trained as a law enforcement officer makes an error, this could be a huge liability to bear. Back in 1987, my first law enforcement position was working as an officer for a private residential gated community in Virginia where I was sworn as a SCOP officer. Since I was performing law enforcement functions and displaying the title “Police” on my badge and uniforms, plus driving a vehicle equipped with lights and sirens, I was required to attend and complete the entire basic law enforcement academy, along with 60 hours of FTO training from an FTO with the local police department in the jurisdiction the community was located in. This was before DCJS mandated SCOP Officers Training and the amount of training that a SCOP was to receive was decided by either the Circuit Court Judge or the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the jurisdiction the SCOP was appointed in. I am currently DCJS certified both LE & SCOP as well as certified as a general instructor for both. Attending a minimum of 8 to 10 weeks of a 26 week basic police academy  and the FTO program with the local law enforcement agency would work great for SCOP Officers who are code & compliance officers, license inspectors, animal control officers, local park rangers, hospital security officers and gated community & private college security forces. However, if the training program is kept like it is currently, changes must be made as to limitations of authority and wearing or displaying of the word “Police” on badges and uniforms.  I would be happy to serve on a committee in order to assist in revamping the SCOP program.