The Baldwin city council is considering adding virtual training for its police department.
Baldwin Assistant Police Chief Justin Ferguson met with council members during their work session on July 5. He explained that Savant Learning Systems Virtual Academy is an online academy officers can use to earn P.O.S.T. credit.
Law enforcement personnel are required to receive a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education per year to retain their certification through the Peace Officer Standard and Training Council. The same applies to senior law enforcement officials such as the chief and assistant chief, but they must receive training through executive-level courses.
Through the virtual learning academy, the chief can mandate courses for officers to take with defined start and finish dates.
The virtual learning academy has a module for field training new officers to track their progress and allows department managers to make changes should a trainee not meet specific established standards.
Ferguson explained that it would not replace in-person training but would complement the training an officer receives.
He explained to the council that some courses had tests at the end of each module, and should an officer not receive a passing score, there would be no extra charge for the officer to retake the course.
Ferguson added that the cost of the virtual learning academy was factored into the police department budget.
The council will discuss implementing the Savant Learning Systems Virtual Academy during its regular meeting on Monday, July 10.
Special use permit
Also, on Monday, the city council will consider a special use permit for a new in-home childcare center in Baldwin.
Mary Razetto applied for the permit to establish a child care center in her residence in the Mallard Pond subdivision. Razetto recently moved to Baldwin from Flowery Branch, where she had an in-home daycare as well.
Woodmaster explained that since the zoning for her residence was R-1, she was required to apply for a special use permit and will follow the zoning process, which will require two public hearings for those citizens that wish to speak in favor of or oppose the issuance of the special use permit.
Woodmaster explained to the council that Razetto is certified and state licensed and can have up to six children in her home without additional staff. She explained that she had talked to Fire Chief Joe Roy about this application, and he explained that her yard had to be completely fenced in and it was required that there was a minimum requirement of 100 square feet per child of yard space for them to play. Razetto’s property meets both requirements.
The Razetto Childcare Center permit was added to the agenda for Monday night’s meeting. Woodmaster said Razetto would be at that meeting.
The Baldwin City Council meets Monday, July 10, in the municipal courtroom at the Baldwin Police Department building on Willingham Avenue.
