Times have changed…

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Taken from “A Tradition of Excellence,” available on Amazon.

By Mike Simmons

Since the beginning of law enforcement, training was handled by the veteran officer training the new guy. It wasn’t until 1974 that the state-mandated law enforcement academy was instituted. Before that, some “police classes” were occasionally held by the Pensacola Police Department, with other agencies attending. In the late 1960s, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and the Pensacola Police Department each initiated their own academies. The first class that was regulated by Florida began at Pensacola Junior College (now Pensacola State College) on May 31, 1974.

Below are some photos of the early days of law enforcement training classes at Pensacola Junior College.

Historical photo of early law enforcement officers posing outside, featuring men in police uniforms and hats, with some wearing bow ties.
Police class at Pensacola Police Department, April 30, 1939
Historical photo of the Escambia County Sheriff's Academy, featuring a speaker addressing an audience seated on stairs outside the Roland Davis Memorial Training Center.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Academy, located on the northwest corner of “L” and Leonard Streets
Black and white photo of a group of early law enforcement trainees and instructors posing for a picture at Pensacola Junior College.
1967 Pensacola Police Department academy class
Black and white photograph of a large group of law enforcement trainees and instructors posing together, showcasing early law enforcement training at Pensacola Junior College.
1969 Class at Pensacola Junior College
Group photo of law enforcement training class at Pensacola Junior College in the late 1970s, featuring officers in gray uniforms posing outdoors among trees.
Group photo of law enforcement officers and trainees at Pensacola Junior College, taken in the past, with trees in the background.
Four law enforcement trainees pointing handguns during a training exercise.
Firearms Training 1971
Two male instructors in green shirts demonstrate a training technique on a blue mat, while several students observe in the background.
How many can you name?
Historical photo of a law enforcement training class at Pensacola Junior College, featuring an instructor demonstrating techniques to a group of students in a gymnasium setting.
Who is the guy with the blue jacket and the unimpressed expression?

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