On July 27, 2011, POST staff learned of an injury to a student that occurred on July 21, 2011, during the presentation of a training course, Distraction Device Breaching - Instructor (CCN 1025-33566) certified to and presented by International Training Resources (ITR).  POST staff conducted an investigation which led to the decertification of 22 courses certified to ITR.

On June 28, 2012, ITR appealed POST staff's decision to the Commission.  The Commission heard arguments from Mr. Michael Raines, attorney for ITR, and staff.  On July 9, 2012, the Commission rendered a written decision in this appeal (see Attachment A).  

1. In summary, the Commission's written decision in the ITR appeal made the following three determinations:

1. The Distraction Device Breaching Instructor Course (CCN 1025-33566) - This course was properly decertified and should remain decertified.
2. Sedentary Classroom Training Courses - Those courses identified as solely classroom courses in which students "passively receive, in a sedentary manner..." the course instruction shall be returned to active status and shall no longer be noted in the Commission's records as being decertified.
3. Other Courses Involving Practical Application by Students Beyond Sedentary Classroom Instruction - The Commission will allow ITR to demonstrate that continued decertification of courses involving practical application by students is unwarranted.  The Commission will allow for the decertification of such courses to be reversed and returned to active status, only upon a thorough review to determine that the courses meet all mandated certification and presentation requirements.  Courses will be audited by POST staff at ITR's expense.

The following four sedentary courses were identified in the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system to begin to implement the Commission's second Determination:

1. CCN 1025-12250 - Critical Incident Management and Tactics
2. CCN 1025-30922 - Dispatcher - Tactical Operation
3. CCN 1025-30869 - Dispatcher - Tactical Operations, Advanced
4. CCN 1025-23030 - Special Weapons and Tactics

During the certification process, several course titles have been updated to more effectively reflect the course content and conform with standardized course titles.  The following chart depicts the previously decertified ITR course titles and the current CATT course titles for the sedentary courses.

All four sedentary courses have been certified. The following list shows the performance of these courses from certification in Fiscal Year 2012 to the date of this report:

1. Special Weapons and Tactics, Commander - Four presentations for a total of 59 attendees.
2. Dispatcher - Tactical Operations - Nine presentations for a total of 164 attendees.
3. Dispatcher - Tactical Operations, Advanced - Three presentations for a total of 51 attendees.
4. Special Weapons and Tactics, Team Leader - One presentation for a total of 23 attendees and one presentation canceled.

Staff has begun to implement the Commission’s third determination for non-sedentary courses. CATT submitted four courses for return to active status.  The courses were reviewed by subject matter experts who provided input for changes and corrections.  All of the courses were returned to CATT staff for revision.  During the past few months, each course has been the subject of an ongoing electronic and personal dialogue between CATT and staff to address concerns related to format, content and instructor resumes. CATT has provided additional information and made modifications to the courses and re-submitted them for review.  The courses have proven to be problematic; and each  was returned to CATT because the requested corrections and/or revisions were not made.

Following additional exchanges between staff and CATT, the Critical Incident Instructor Course (CCN 1265-24204) was approved effective April 23, 2015, and the Technical Rope Operations Instructor (CCN 1265-33579) was approved effective October 26, 2015.  There are no other courses pending at this time.

Pursuant to the Commission’s decision, the first presentation of each non-sedentary course certified to CATT will be audited by trained evaluators from the Quality Assessment Program to ensure compliance with POST course certification Regulations and Procedures.  The audits will be conducted at CATT's expense.

As of the date of this report, neither of these courses has been scheduled for presentation.

The next informational report will be submitted at the February 2017 Commission meeting.