With absolutely no existing national standardization for police training, state and local police department training ranges from six-month long, live-in police academies such as those of the largest state police agencies and much smaller, independent local police academies with much shorter training programs. At some of the smallest local sheriff departments, officers may still be sworn into their positions by direct Sheriff's appointment, without prior training of any kind. In between those two extremes, police training and certification in different states range from four-week long, self-sponsored community college certification programs to independently run police academy training programs run by municipal police departments themselves. Just as pre-employment officer training programs vary significantly among different agencies, so does the degree of thoroughness and accuracy of pre- employment candidate screening and background investigations conducted by police applicant background investigators. Likewise, no two police departments or state agencies maintain the same policies and procedures, which is another tremendous obstacle t any suggested establishment of one nationwide police force.

Finally, some local and state police agencies have long been characterized by efficient administration and ethical leadership whereas others have equally long histories of administrative failures and institutionalized corruption, further complicating any attempt at nationwide consolidation of uniform police administration..

Constitutional Considerations:

State sovereignty in all legal matters not preempted by federal jurisdiction or by specific exercise of federal power is a fundamental constitutional principle. It presents another insurmountable practical barrier to the notion of any single nationwide police organization. State law -- both civil and criminal law and procedure -- have, ever since the landmark 1819 case McCulloch v. Maryland, evolved completely...

Constitution.
(Chase & Ducat, p. 272-3)

Conclusion:

Ever since the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, counter terrorism efforts have risen to the forefront of national concern. One suggestion to address terrorism includes establishment of a single, national police organization to consolidate and standardize policing throughout the country. While understandable in principle, upon closer examination, several significant obstacles would seem to preclude any practical implementation of such an institution. Intra-agency policy, procedural, operational, and administration problems have plagued some of the most respected, largest, and well-funded law enforcement agencies. Interdepartmental rivalry among federal agencies and between federal and local authorities continue to undermine legislative efforts to improve joint counter terrorism operations, and on the local level, it is impractical to imagine standardizing policies and procedures of hundreds of different police agencies. Finally, the fundamental concept of state sovereignty, completely on its own, would seem to preclude any establishment of a nationwide police force, however beneficial such an idea might be in the realm of protecting the United States from terrorism.