National Council of Police Workplace Associations: “Mandatory field service for graduates of the police university and officer candidate program should be extended to two years”

[Financial News] The National Council of Police Workplace Associations (NC-PWA) called for extending the mandatory local-police service period for lieutenants who graduated from the Korean National Police University (KNPU) or the police officer candidate program from the current six months to at least two years. The criticism is that, unlike police policies emphasizing stronger response capabilities in the field, the field service period for officers who will take on command roles in the future is far too short.
The National Council of Police Workplace Associations issued a statement on the 25th, saying, “If we are to emphasize field-centered policing, commanders must first experience the field,” and called for the change.
The council criticized the fact that newly appointed constables build experience responding to a wide range of public safety situations by working for extended periods at police substations and police boxes—handling 112 emergency calls, responding initially to violent crimes, protecting intoxicated people, and dealing with domestic violence, among other duties—while lieutenants who graduated from KNPU or the police officer candidate program are required to serve in local policing for only six months.
In particular, citing the National Police Agency’s revision of the promotion examination system from constable to senior constable to help newly appointed constables adapt to field work early and build response capabilities, the council raised concerns about the fairness of service standards across different entry routes.
The council asked rhetorically, “Is it really reasonable to emphasize field adaptation and professional expertise for constables while requiring officers who will lead field operations and the organization in the future to serve in local policing for just six months?”
It added that six months of service would not be enough to gain sufficient experience not only in a range of public safety situations but also in the difficulties of shift work faced by frontline officers and the judgment and responsibility required in high-pressure field situations.
It stressed, “Field experience is not something only lower-ranking officers need. If anything, the more senior the officers who command the field and make policy decisions, the greater their need for extensive field experience and understanding.”
The council therefore called for extending the mandatory local-police service period for lieutenants who graduated from KNPU or the police officer candidate program to at least two years and establishing reasonable, fair field-service standards regardless of entry route.
It also urged that actual field-service experience and understanding of field work be considered important evaluation factors in future commander selections and appointments to key posts.
The council explained that its demand was not intended to disadvantage any particular entry route, but was a policy reform aimed at strengthening officers’ practical command capabilities.
Finally, it asked the National Police Agency to review the mandatory local-police service system as a whole, saying, “Field-centered policing cannot be achieved through slogans alone. Policies that make a difference in the field are possible only when there are commanders who know the field.”
[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter