The Virginia Beach Police Department's Training Facility is located in the Law Enforcement Training Academy (L.E.T.A.) at 411 Integrity Way, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.
The facility is an impressive 55,000 sq ft building dedicated to teaching the basic police academy as well as providing specialized advance police training for all law enforcement agencies. LETA offers state of the art classrooms, a library, a 20 station computer lab, a large cardiovascular (weight) room, a gymnasium, a cafeteria and a 300 seat auditorium complete with surround sound.
The Law Enforcement Training Academy has been host to several outside agencies offering the law enforcement community a variety of training. This training has consisted of Front line leadership workshops, Polygraph examiners training, Virginia Community Policing Institute seminars, Lessons Learned from the Oklahoma City bombing offered by the FBI and many more.
The Virginia Beach Police Training Office offers the highest level of training through Professionalism Respect Integrity Dedication and Excellence.
In addition to offering various in-service or advanced specialized training, L.E.T.A. is available to other law enforcement agencies interested in a facility for large training seminars or exercises.
The training office has primary responsibility for recruiting, applicant testing, selection and training of departmental personnel. The training unit has an active recruiting program which targets all area citizens, colleges and military installations. The staff screens police applicants through nine rigorous testing phases consisting of a physical ability test, written test and background investigation to name a few. Those applicants who successfully meet all hiring requirements are selected to attend a 26 week basic recruit academy. The 26 week academy is a highly demanding academic environment as well as a very intense physical atmosphere. This academy is regarded as one of the areas best training programs for law enforcement.
In addition to conducting the basic recruit academies, the training staff also offers more than 15 weeks of annual in-service training. This in-service training includes CPR, First Aid, defensive tactics refresher, as well as annual firearms qualifications and tactical training. Additional specialty courses are offered to increase proficiency in survival skills and leadership abilities.
Not only does the training office develop curriculum for the basic recruit academy and in-service classes, we provide a variety of specialized training courses and seminars which draws numerous law enforcement personnel from across the country to Virginia Beach.