Training & Education

Threat Concerns to Religious Places of Worship

Brian P. Haughton August 20, 2019 – Indianapolis, Indiana  Thomas Matthew McVicker was arrested after issuing plausible threats to carry out a mass shooting and suicide at an unspecified church in Memphis, TN. McVicker, a truck driver, was apprehended before his plan could be carried out. The arrestee’s mother had revealed that McVicker possessed a handgun and was taking medication for schizophrenia. April 27, 2019 – Poway, California A gunman armed with an AR-15-style rifle opened fire inside the Chabad…


Shades of Gray: Color-blind Individuals May Prove Beneficial for Law Enforcement

Carley Swetz, Dr. Tod W. Burke, and Dr. Stephen S. Owen Individuals with color blindness can benefit law enforcement and other first response agencies in a number of different ways. Consider the following hypothetical scenario: An armored truck is robbed at gunpoint by a group of individuals who made their escape in a privately owned vehicle. The two uniformed officers are injured and unable to pursue the perpetrators who also elude local law enforcement. Footage of the robbery and parts…


The Police Leader’s Role

Gerald W. Garner There is nothing the law enforcement leader does which is more important than working to assure the well-being of his (or her) employees. Once they know that they have that backing from leadership, most will be willing to go out and do a job which may be more dangerous today than it has been in years. Policing has never been easy, but today’s challenges have further complicated an already convoluted public safety scenario. Leading a law enforcement…


Responding to Incidents Involving Persons with Autism

Barbara J. Morvay A first responder who is able to identify a person with autism can then respond in a way which best supports the individual. You are dispatched to a scene with gunshots fired. Upon arrival, you observe three men fleeing from the scene. You and your partner are able to apprehend two of the individuals. Another squad car has arrived on the scene and the officers are providing support to secure the scene and the situation starts calming…


Firearms Training Technologies

Rebecca Waters Simulated training systems can provide advantages to traditional firing ranges and live training scenarios.        Law enforcement training simulators continue to evolve and can now offer several advantages over traditional training in classrooms, shooting ranges and live training scenarios. Training simulators can mimic the experience of responding to real-life incidents with full-size projections on one screen or multiple screens; sound systems providing realistic sound stimuli; and, sometimes, other atmospheric effects including smoke, smell, fog, and scent. The officers…


2019 ILEETA Conference: Enhancing Training and Making Connections

An Inside Look at This Nation’s Premier Law Enforcement Training Event Todd Fletcher The 2019 International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) Conference has wrapped up and instructors from all over the world have returned home to continue their mission of training law enforcement officers. After six solid days of instruction, everyone left exhausted, reinvigorated and ready to share new information and knowledge. The ILEETA Conference includes classes on leadership, supervision, use of force, defensive tactics, live fire firearms…


Seven Things Every Chief Should Know About the Use of Force

Ed Nowicki “What does reasonable law enforcement use of force and making sausage have in common?” The answer is logical. “You want to enjoy the final product, but you don’t want to see either one being made.” The part of law enforcement which tends to be the most controversial is the use of force which, at times, has been compared to making sausage. Today’s complex society requires that the professional law enforcement administrator deal with various issues involving the use…


Education 101: Criminal Justice vs. Homeland Security

Choosing the Right Program Is Key to Achieving Your Career Goals Rebecca Waters Once you’ve decided to pursue higher education, the decision-making process has just begun. Which degree is most likely to help you reach your objectives? Which school should you attend? “Before deciding to pursue my doctorate degree in criminal justice, I first spoke with the admissions representative, a current student in the program that I was considering, and a graduate of the program,” says Dr. Michael Pittaro, Assistant Professor…


Use-of-Force Policy and Training Issues

Ed Nowicki One of the most important aspects of a law enforcement officer’s duty relates to the use of force. If officers do not respond with force in certain circumstances, these officers may pay the ultimate price with their lives. If their force response is excessive, they may unlawfully take someone’s life. NOTE: This article was written by a use-of-force practitioner and a judicially recognized use-of-force expert who is not a licensed attorney. This article does not constitute legal advice….


Surveillance Tactics to Find and Stop Opioid Dealers

Leischen Kranick According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, it’s estimated that 115 people die every day in the United States from overdosing on opioids. However, this number does not account for the numerous individuals who overdose, but do not expire, with some of them overdosing repeatedly. “I’ve seen this happen with the same person as many as seven times in a 24 hour period,” said James Deater, who spent more than 27 years as a trooper with the…