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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPS 2019-05-06 Item 2B - Discussion - Police Department Training StrategyTO: FROM: BY: City of Tukwila INFOR ATIO AL E ORANDU Tukwila Public Safety Committee Bruce Linton, Chief of Police Bruce Linton, Chief of Police CC: Mayor Ekberg DATE: 05/01/2019 SUBJECT: Tukwila Police Department Training Strategy Allan Ekberg, Mayor ISSUE The Tukwila Police Department is focused on providing relevant and realistic training to better serve our community while ensuring the safety and overall wellness of our employees as they are called to perform in a volatile, uncertain, complex and sometimes ambiguous environment. BACKGROUND The training requirements for law enforcement agencies have increased dramatically over time. Agencies must plan, resource and leverage technology to stay abreast of societal challenges that can change; the legal framework, how we respond to critical incidences, how we deal with the mentally ill and how we remain physically and mentally fit while serving in one of the most demanding careers. I want our employees to train hard and work hard and in order to do so, I must provide realistic training that prepares them for the realities they will face daily on the street, in the court room and at home. They must develop a level of resiliency necessary to recover and endure the difficulties of the job that we are charged to perform over the span of our careers. ANALYSIS In designing the training strategy, we prioritized mandatory training versus other important training based on available resources. If resourcing is flexible, legal liability, growth and leadership and additional technical subject -matter training is resourced to ensure efficiency throughout the agency. For now, the mandatory In -Service Training required by the Criminal Justice Training Institute (CJTC) is 24-hours annually. Tukwila Police Department meet and exceed that standard on an annual basis. During a recent communication with the CJTC, the prediction is that the 24-hour requirement will double. Several years ago, the legislature mandated Crisis Intervention Training. The initial training is an 8-hour block followed by annual continuation training which consist of a two-hour online training block. The two-hour on-line continuation training is better than no training at all; however, we believe that training focusing on dealing with the mentally ill should evolve into scenario -based training where officers get the opportunity to practice the content learned in the classroom. While the Criminal Justice Training Commission deliberate on the content and delivery method of the most recent legislature -directed training (De -Escalation Training), Tukwila Police Department saw the eventuality several years ago based on the trends of who we were dealing with on the streets and the likely outcomes. The department resourced a mandatory 8-hour de- 9 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Tukwila Police Department Training Strategy Page 2 escalation training session taught by Dolan Consulting, a nationally respected Law Enforcement Training Group to ensure we were better prepared to serve our citizens. We also feel strongly that this academic training must be integrated into scenario -based training concept. We will accomplish this again in 2019. The department recently added Legal Update Training as an annual necessity. WCIA, our insurance carrier was instrumental and supportive by paying for 50% of the training cost ($4,000) during last -year's iteration of Legal Update Training. The $8,000 training package was taught by Keating Bucklin & McCormick, the attorneys who represent Tukwila and other agencies during civil lawsuit challenges. We found this most beneficial as we professionalize and standardize our training. The new King County Inquest Process Standard for when a citizen dies in police custody (" did the officer(s) involved follow policy and training?") generates new concern for King County law enforcement agencies. More training time must be afforded to ensure a constant review of current policy along with the training associated with new policy. In addition, I believe, that Police Chiefs and their representatives called to testify on behalf of their agencies must become use -of -force subject -matter -experts. Force Science Training will be added to our list for the Chief, Deputy Chief and Commanders. FINANCIAL IMPACT Forecasting, resourcing and planning can only be managed by a long-range calendar. This technique keeps the agency focused on what lays ahead and what is needed to plan and prepare for upcoming training. As we look ahead and based on trends in training, the training budget could essentially double for the agency. .RECOMMENDATION This is the first year that we will expand and integrate recent mandated trainings into scenario - based modules to truly simulate realistic encounters. I truly believe that continuous training of this sort will prepare our officers for encounters they may face on the streets. I will continue to forge ahead and look for your support as the department conducts close financial analysis of the actual costs during the year as we work towards the additional training requirements I have identified. ATTACHMENTS 2019 Training Calendar 1 0 W:12019 Info Memos\Tukwila Police Training Strategy.doc 2019 Train January February March April Open ***Active Shooter*** Firearms - Qualifications 4 hours ***Active Shooter*** Completed Firearms — Qualifications (4 hours) EVOC (4 hours) FORCE Science (40 hours) ***Active Shooter*** Completed EVOC (4 hours) Firearms Training (4 hours) Defensive Tactics (4 hours) ***Active Shooter*** Completed May! June July Au : ust Firearms Training — 4 hours ***Active Shooter***** In Progress Resilience Training -8 hours optional De-Escalation/CIT Training — 8 hours ***Active Shooter*** Scheduled De-Escalation/CIT Training — 8 hours Firearms (3) Less Lethal Training (3) Scenarios (2) 8 hours Range Dates Scheduled Planning Phase September October Novembe December Legal Update (2) Communicable Diseases Training (Tentative) 3 hours ****Active Shooter****** efensive Tactics (4 hours) tT/De-Escalation Training (2 hours) cenarios (2 hours) FORCE Science for Command St -Of (40 hours) *****Activb„Shooter***** Planning I case Firearms- Low Light Training (4 hours) *****Active Shooter***** Range Dates Scheduled Planning Phase Open *****Active Shoot ng Calendar Mandatory Service Training Topics and Frequency DT Recertification OC, Taser, Impact Less Lethal: Firearms: 4 sessions 1st QTR: Wpns Qual 2nd QTR: Training 3rd QTR: Training 4th QTR: Low Light Quals EVOC: CPR: Communicable Disease CIT: De -Escalation: Legal Update DT Gracie VNR: VSWAT Active Shooter: Shift Briefing: