D.C. Unarmed Special Police Officer — Initial Course
MPD-compliant 40-hour pre-assignment course for District of Columbia Unarmed Special Police Officers — statutory authority, arrest powers, search & seizure, use of force, report writing and professional conduct.
The D.C. Unarmed Special Police Officer Initial Course delivers the 40 hours of pre-assignment training required under D.C. Code § 5-129.02 and 6-A DCMR Chapter 11 for Special Police Officers who will serve without a firearm. Sixteen hours cover arrest powers, search and seizure, the D.C. Code and use of force; the remaining twenty-four hours cover general duties — patrol techniques, access control, incident response, report writing, de-escalation, and interaction with MPD and federal officers. You leave with the MPD-approved Course Completion Certificate your employing agency needs to petition for your SPO commission. Class dates are announced by our operations team — enroll now to reserve your seat and we will email you the schedule as soon as it posts.
What you will learn
Module 1: Statutory Authority & Jurisdiction (16 hrs)
- L1.1D.C. Code § 5-129.02 & 6-A DCMR Ch. 11003h
- L1.2Arrest Powers & Limits of Authority4h
- L1.3Search & Seizure on Employer Property3h
- L1.4Use of Force Continuum (Unarmed)4h
- L1.5Interaction with MPD & Federal Officers2h
Module 2: General Duties (24 hrs)
- L2.1Patrol Techniques & Access Control6h
- L2.2Incident Response & Emergency Procedures5h
- L2.3De-escalation & Verbal Command4h
- L2.4Report Writing & Courtroom Testimony5h
- L2.5Ethics, Professional Conduct & Uniform Standards4h
Prerequisites
- 21+ years old
- U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
- High-school diploma / GED
- Clean criminal record
- Employer sponsorship or intent to serve
- Physical & mental fitness
Upon successful completion
MPD-Approved Course Completion Certificate (required for SPO commission petition)
Pick a class date
Download the DC Permit Requirements PDF
Age, fees, residency, processing time, disqualifiers — everything in one document.