Should the Commission authorize the Executive Director to enter into a two-year contract with qualified vendors for the production and support of the training video program in an amount not to exceed $1,540,000?

Since inception 30 years ago, POST’s video-based law enforcement training programs continue to be one of the most cost-effective services offered to California law enforcement agencies.

Historically referred to as "telecourses,” “multimedia courses," or “distance learning,” POST's long-form training video courses continue as the cornerstone of the video program and provide high-quality, in-service training to local law enforcement agencies, academies, and specialized POST programs.

Each training video is carefully designed to assist law enforcement training managers and instructors in meeting timely training needs and legislative mandates for their agency. The videos, which are segmented into short lessons and designed to be facilitated in group settings or viewed individually, may be used by agencies to satisfy CPT requirements at a fraction of the cost and staff time required for traditional classroom training.  Video programs are available to agencies in the POST program at no charge and with no travel/per diem costs to the Commission. 

The video program first launched in 1989 as a live, interactive statewide broadcast satellite network with VHS videotape distribution of recorded broadcasts, then transitioned in 2003 to DVD-based video by direct mail to agencies.

In 2002, POST incorporated anti-terrorism training topics (Homeland Security) into its training video collection and has produced more than 25 Homeland Security-specific titles offered on DVD and as streaming video on the POST Learning Portal.

In 2011, POST initiated production of its new Did You Know? video series. These dynamic and engaging PSA-style videos are typically 60-90 seconds in length and deliver pertinent information to the field in a timely manner. Designed for roll-call and other brief settings, these award-winning video spots help raise officer awareness in areas of safe driving, domestic violence, victims' rights, school violence, procedural justice, drug awareness, officer wellness, and more. The series also includes video segments for dispatchers. The videos are delivered online via the POST Learning Portal and are also offered for general public viewing on the POST website.

In 2012, POST implemented a new instructional design for its long-form DVD training videos to make them more interactive for trainees and easier for instructors. The upgraded format provides easy-to-follow steps for group facilitation by instructors and includes features to allow CPT credit to be awarded to trainees viewing on an individual basis or in a small group setting. The videos provide enhanced features and options that include setup questions, sample facilitation sessions/demonstrations, and additional interviews with subject matter experts.

In addition to long-form in-service training and Homeland Security videos, over the years POST has produced numerous shorter instructional and informational videos in support of specialized POST programs and Bureaus, including POST Basic Academy videos, Command College, Supervisory Leadership Institute and Supervisory Courses, Cultural Diversity Program, Public Safety Dispatcher courses, Institute for Criminal Investigations, and Field Training Program.

The POST training video program has always included convenient distribution and fulfillment services, allowing eligible agencies to order copies of previous videos from POST’s extensive DVD collection, free of charge. More recently, POST has been converting its video programs to digital formats offered as streaming videos and will discontinue use of DVDs entirely by the end of 2020.

The last Commission action in support of POST’s video programs was in February 2017 with the approval up to $3.1M for a two-year video production services contract for 2018-2020; this contract was ultimately secured via public bid at a reduced scope of work and budget of $1.9M. Continued training needs for contemporary topics such as principled policing, de-escalation, use of force, officer wellness, officer safety, and other training mandates and timely topics were satisfied by the training video program with a total of 18 videos produced during the last two fiscal years. Conversion of the video programs from DVD to online streaming video via the POST Learning Portal was also accomplished.

The current video program contract expires in June 2020. To ensure that California law enforcement agencies in the POST Program continue to receive these valuable resources, POST will once again seek a two-year contract(s) for digital video-based law enforcement training program design, development, and production. The scope of work proposed for the POST Training Video Program in 2020-22 expands program flexibility in the quantity of individual video program types (Tasks) produced within the contract limits and includes:

Task 1: Production of long-form in-service law enforcement training video courses with companion reference guides. The videos are presented in a two-track design that accommodates either facilitated group training by an instructor or individual viewing by a trainee. The programs address contemporary law enforcement issues and are designed to meet POST’s continuing professional training requirements. The videos are long-form, segmented news documentary style with a length up to 120 minutes per program, delivered in digital format for streaming online.

Task 2: Production of short-form law enforcement professional service/officer safety awareness videos. Known as “Did You Know?” videos, these brief public service announcement-style videos feature a timely topic with a length up to 120 seconds per program and are delivered in digital format for streaming online.

Task 3: Production of long-form law enforcement videos in support of specialized POST training programs or services. These videos will be designed in a format that features a combination of vignettes, scenarios, reenactments, and/or subject matter expert interview segments to meet specialized POST program training requirements. The programs address timely law enforcement issues targeting the needs of specialized groups such as law enforcement supervisors, instructors, Regular Basic Course trainees, or public safety dispatchers. Videos are long-form, dramatic or news-documentary style with a length up to 60 minutes for the finished program, delivered in digital format for streaming online.

Task 4: Production of short-form law enforcement videos in support of specialized POST projects or Bureau programs. Similar to Task 3, these videos will be designed in a format that features a combination of multiple vignettes, scenarios or reenactments, and subject matter expert interviews to meet specialized POST program needs that may include self-paced Learning Portal courses, brief tutorials, program orientations/overviews, or similar short-form videos. Video segments are up to 15 minutes total length for the finished program, delivered in digital format for streaming online.

Task 5: Production of short-form law enforcement news package-style videos providing time-sensitive law/legal or policy change updates, law enforcement trends, and highlights of contemporary law enforcement training issues. Video segments are up to five minutes total length for the finished program, delivered in digital format for streaming online.