The Commission is being asked to give direction to staff regarding a proposed title change under the “Communication” requirement outlined in Regulation §1005(d), Perishable Skills/Communications Requirements for CPT.  The proposed change would involve renaming the current regulatory language under PAM Section D-2, from “Tactical Communications” to “De-escalation through Strategic Communications.”

Since January 1, 2002, all California peace officers (except reserve officers) below the middle management position and assigned to patrol, traffic, or investigation who routinely effect the physical arrest of criminal suspects are required to complete 14 hours of Perishable Skills training, including a minimum of two hours of training in “Communications.” Course requirements to satisfy the communications requirement under Regulation §1005(d) are outlined in Training Procedure (PAM) Section D-2.

Effective communication skills are core competencies of both procedural justice and de-escalation.  Officers and the community are safer when communication skills are enhanced and used to their fullest effect.  Peace officers must understand how the principles of de-escalation can provide effective tools during contacts with the public and result in improved decision-making, reduced situational intensity, and increased opportunities for outcomes with greater voluntary compliance.

The communications training required under the perishable skills mandate may be satisfied by training in courses with a wide variety of titles and from various presenters.  Major course titles include: strategic communications, tactical communications, and interpersonal communications. In addition, there are other courses which meet the mandate, including crisis intervention, crisis negotiation, mental health decision making, de-escalation and tactical communication, and threat assessment/de-escalation strategies.

In March of 2019, POST completed an update to the “Strategic Communications” video and course. This course emphasizes the use of professional verbal interaction to enhance de-escalation techniques and promote officer safety while building trust with communities.  This course is provided free of charge to all POST-participating law enforcement agencies in California, and meets the communication training requirements under Regulation §1005(d).  

Training Procedure (PAM) Section D-2 mandates that any course designated to satisfy the Regulation 1005(d) “Communications” mandate may be focused either on tactical or interpersonal communications.  Under D-2, course content for “Tactical Communications” must minimally include, among other things, a requirement to address “Intentional/Unintentional Contact Escalation vs. De-Escalation.”

The “Tactical Communications” content under D-2 already contains a regulatory mandate to include the principles of de-escalation, including both intentional and unintentional circumstances, in all training identified as “tactical communication.”  By renaming “Tactical Communications” to “De-Escalation through Strategic Communications,” POST would more accurately reflect and emphasize a core tenant and priority of this communications training -- namely verbal de-escalation techniques.

Additionally, the proposed title change would allow agencies interested in identifying and increasing competencies in de-escalation to readily identify courses in the POST Course Catalog which contain elements of verbal de-escalation in order to meet training needs. 

Finally, it is anticipated that the proposed change would allow POST a more consistent and accurate monitoring and recording of training which contains elements of, and strategies for, de-escalation.

POST staff recommends that the Commission direct staff to explore the renaming of “Tactical Communications” under PAM Section D-2, to “De-Escalation through Strategic Communications” and report back at the next Commission meeting.