Police training organization headquartered at UNF provides specialized instruction nationwide

A national law enforcement training organization that hosts training courses for thousands of police officers every year sits on the west end of the University of North Florida’s campus, though many students and staff members have no idea it’s there.

The Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM) sits at 12000 Alumni Drive on UNF’s campus and provides advanced law enforcement training to officers all over the country, including officers who are part of the University Police Department (UPD). 

According to the IPTM mission statement, the organization’s goal is to deliver top-quality training to law enforcement through innovative content, expert instruction, high-quality materials, and personalized customer service.

Donnie Barker, associate director of training for IPTM, said the training organization caters to officers at all stages of their careers by offering a variety of programs.

“IPTM is a full-spectrum training organization,” Barker said. “We provide training for more than 10,000 officers a year in specialized courses.”

Barker said IPTM provides specialized training in six categories, including tactical training, impaired driving enforcement, crime scene investigation, marine unit operations and law enforcement leadership and management. 

Law enforcement officers from all over the country travel to IPTM’s courses to receive advanced training. For UPD officers, having access to that training on their own campus provides a unique opportunity to enhance their skills without traveling far, according to Barker.

One of IPTM’s specialized divisions focuses on impaired driving enforcement. Tim Cornelius, IPTM’s Drug Recognition Expert state coordinator, oversees training pertaining to recognition and enforcement of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Although such training is always useful to have in college towns, Cornelius said there are not as many DUIs on UNF’s campus as there are at other universities because of the campus’s layout and lack of nightlife on campus.

“UNF doesn’t have the same sort of on-campus entertainment districts that you see at other universities,” Cornelius said. “A lot of students choose to live off campus or leave campus to entertain themselves.”

Cornelius said schools such as FSU and Florida Gulf Coast University have entertainment districts and bars located closer to campus and student housing, which require more DUI enforcement. While DUI incidents may be less common at UNF, the training IPTM provides ensures that officers are prepared to handle impaired driving cases should they occur, whether on campus or in surrounding areas.

In addition to its regular training courses, IPTM hosts national law enforcement conferences, including its annual Symposium on Traffic Safety. The conference consists of two tracks that focus on impaired driving and traffic crash investigations. Although these events attract officers from across the country, their presence on UNF’s campus further strengthens the professional development resources available to UPD.

The UPD works closely with IPTM and sends officers to attend courses whenever possible.

Jack Kane, lieutenant of UPD who oversees special events, investigations and accreditation, said the department values its relationship with IPTM and regularly utilizes the training courses offered on campus.

“We try to send our officers to as many classes there as we can,” Kane said.

Kane said most UNF officers take advantage of IPTM’s leadership and management training courses. While UPD benefits from several IPTM programs, most of the tactical training is conducted by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Still, Kane said having IPTM on campus provides convenient access to specialized instruction that supports the department’s overall preparedness.

That preparedness becomes especially important during events hosted on campus. UPD is responsible for providing security at those events, and Kane said the size of the event and whether alcohol will be served determines how many officers are assigned.

“If it reaches a certain size or there’s alcohol being sold at the event, we require at least two officers to be there,” Kane said.

Beyond event security, UNF police officers are trained for a range of emergencies that may occur on campus. 

Kane said every building on campus has an emergency response plan tailored to that specific building. Officers receive active shooter and active assailant training when they are hired and complete refresher training annually. He said if an active shooter or active assailant situation occurs, officers are trained not to wait for backup and to take immediate action to stop the threat.

“There’s emergency plans everywhere. They’re not public-facing, but we do have plans that deal with events and protocols,” Kane said. He added that active shooter drills are the main focus of training. This training is completed through various venues, including JSO and IPTM.

UPD officials say officers remain prepared to respond to emergencies and maintain campus safety, citing their ongoing training — including their relationship with IPTM — as a key reason.

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