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-
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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: