Meetings
 
 
Print
AGENDA ITEM REPORT

Title: Report on Proposed Changes to the Training and Testing Specifications for Peace Officer Basic Courses
REPORT PROFILE
MEETING DATE
6/21/2018		 BUREAU SUBMITTING THIS REPORT
Basic Training Bureau
RESEARCHED BY (PRINT NAME)
Cheryl Smith		 REVIEWED BY (PRINT NAME)
R.C. Smith
REPORT DATE
04/17/2018		 APPROVED BY
Manuel Alvarez, Jr.		 DATE APPROVED
05/25/2018
PURPOSE
Decision Requested		 FINANCIAL IMPACT
No

ISSUE:
Should the Commission approve, subject to the Notice of Proposed Regulatory Action process, the proposed Training and Testing Specifications for Peace Officer Basic Courses, as enumerated in this report?
BACKGROUND:
As part of an ongoing review of the Regular Basic Course content, POST staff and curriculum consultants review Learning Domain content to determine currency and job task relevancy. This process is facilitated by POST and attended by subject matter experts, academy directors, and coordinators. Some of the more significant outcomes of these workshops are recommendations for updating and enhancing the basic courses. 
ANALYSIS:

The proposed changes affect the following Learning Domains (see Attachment A):

  • LD 20, Use of Force

The current language indicates this specific test assesses impact weapon techniques, which are already tested in Learning Domain 33. 

The scenario tests in LD 20 are intended to gauge the student’s use of force decision making abilities within three specific circumstances and not techniques already tested elsewhere (i.e., baton, handcuffing, and firearms tested in Learning Domains 33 and 35).  This intent is further borne out in that the competencies specified for each of the scenario tests in Learning Domain 20 do not include any technique-specific requirements, because they are already specified in the other learning domains’ required exercise tests.

As currently written, only those circumstances legally justifying the use of deadly force (i.e., “The test will result in the student making a deadly force option decision.”) and those circumstances where no force is legally justified (i.e., “during the detention of a verbally uncooperative individual.”) are tested.  The remaining test, the focus of this correction, does not clearly express the requirement to test a force option decision in a less-than-deadly force circumstances, rather it seems to indicate a separately-tested technique is the focus of the test.  The proposed change will clarify this confusion and result in required testing to verify the decision-making ability of all regular basic course students in less-than-deadly force circumstances. 

RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the revisions to the Training and Testing Specifications be amended pursuant to the rulemaking process and the Office of Administrative Law. If no one requests a public hearing, the amendments would become effective Febaruary 1, 2019.
 
ATTACHMENT(S):
Name: Type:
LD20.pdf Cover Memo