FIRST LOS ANGELES AIRPORT POLICE OFFICER RECEIVES CERTIFICATION AS MASTER INSTRUCTOR FROM CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING

(Los Angeles, California – November 5, 2012)  Los Angeles Airport Police Officer John Youngblood, a 12-year veteran assigned to the Training Unit during the last three years, has been certified as a Master Instructor by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.).  He is the first Los Angeles World Airports police officer to successfully achieve this level of training. 

Airport Police Chief Michael Hyams said, “The Airport Police Division is honored to have Officer Youngblood as part of our team.  He has raised our level of professionalism within the law enforcement community through his hard work, commitment and dedication.”

Officer Youngblood completed a rigorous academic program to achieve the status of Master Instructor.  He will participate in a graduation ceremony scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on November 8, 2012, in Sacramento.  With this accomplishment, Officer Youngblood he is now certified to write training curricula for P.O.S.T. 

 In 2007, the P.O.S.T. Commission created the Instructor Development Institute (IDI) to provide standardized, multi-tiered, multi-track programs to develop professionalism in the delivery of law-enforcement instruction.  Students are expected to complete a significant amount of work outside of class and are responsible for providing work products and monthly reports to the team facilitator, who reviews the student's products and provides feedback.

            The process of certification to reach the level of Master Instructor includes successful completion of various IDI courses at the entry, intermediate and advanced levels.  The classes incorporate basic instructor certification, instructional skills, critical thinking skills, teach-back sessions, leadership coaching, and mentoring courses, among others.  Upon completion of the three levels, a candidate’s Instructional 

Systems Design and Total Training Package is evaluated by a panel of qualified trainers.  Candidates are also required to design, develop and deliver a minimum of one 24-hour course that meets a demonstrated and P.O.S.T.-approved training need.  

The Los Angeles Airport Police Division is the fourth largest law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County with more than 1,100 law enforcement, security and staff personnel.  Airport Police is a division of Los Angeles World Airports, the City department that owns and operates three airports in Southern California:  Los Angeles International (LAX), LA/Ontario International (ONT), and Van Nuys (general aviation).