As part of an ongoing review of the Regular Basic Course content, POST staff and curriculum consultants review Learning Domain content to determine the 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.

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 test 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 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.

At the June 21, 2018, meeting the Commission approved the removal of a "presenter approved impact weapon techniques" to be replaced by "....proficiency in the use of force. The test must result in the student making a less-than-deadly force option decision."  POST staff inadvertently failed to update the verbiage in a second paragraph to maintain consistency with the changes approved by the Commission. Those changes are in double-strikeout and double-underline.

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 October 1, 2019.