At least 80 percent of the cadet group taken onto the Curtis Wilbur once served in the discredited former Indonesian police force in East Timor, Mr. Vasquez said. A total force of 3,000 is expected to be recruited before the UN mission ends. Training involves three months in the classroom at the new East Timor police academy, formerly the Indonesian police headquarters. Recruits are then posted to CivPol stations for three months where they accompany UN police on their rounds. After six months, the trainees are put on probationary assignment and posted to stations throughout the territory.
Trainers say that the East Timorese police cadets are fast learners.
Cool-headed East Timorese police trainees, including several women, were instrumental in defusing a recent violent confrontation between Portuguese riot police and university students. It has been devised in response to the needs of new and emerging democracies like East Timor. Since its creation in 1986, the program has been used in nearly 60 countries. Known officially as the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program, it uses a skilled cadre of experienced federal and state law enforcement officials like Mr. Coyne, a Korean War veteran. The program teaches a curriculum ranging from crime scene investigations and forensics to administration and public accountability of police.