Arizona Law Enforcement Academy’s Inaugural Blue Courage Academy Class

The Arizona Law Enforcement Academy’s inaugural Blue Courage Academy class started on November 4, 2013.

During the week of September 7, 2013, the Blue Courage team had the privilege of helping the dedicated police instructors of the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy (ALEA) in Phoenix, AZ embed the Blue Courage philosophy into their existing curriculum. This was an initiative that was funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and in partnership with the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training. This is the first of three pilot police academies to be trained using Blue Courage as a foundational philosophy.

The Blue Courage Philosophy is defined as:

Blue Courage is a way of being,
A philosophy that inspires one to
Embody the noblest of character
And unquestioned devotion.
It is to flourish in all aspects of life,
To act with practical wisdom,
To exude vitality, and
To hearten human connections.

Yesterday ALEA started their first Blue Courage Academy class – class #470 – with a total of 49 recruits. The class is comprised of the following 12 police agencies: Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Department of Transportation, Arizona State University PD, Avondale PD, Chandler PD, Flagstaff PD, Gilbert PD, Glendale PD, Scottsdale PD, Surprise PD, and Yuma PD.

The police recruits will receive 20 weeks of basic police training that concludes with graduation on March 21, 2014. The recruits of class #470 will spend 369 classroom hours with Blue Courage trained instructors. It is their intent to infuse the Blue Courage philosophy not only into their policing philosophy, but also into their way of being in all aspect of life. The recruits will work and learn from the Nobility of Policing book, be encouraged to keep their learning journals throughout the academy and familiarize themselves with the Coherence Advantage Pocket Guide. They will also earn the privilege of wearing the Blue Courage pin when they transition from civilian attire to uniform, which is expected to occur around week #7. Additionally, the classroom and campus has been adorned with Blue Courage materials (posters, flags, etc.) as a constant reminder of the Blue Courage way of life.