Common use of Officer Training Clause in Contracts

Officer Training. ‌ A full assessment of training was outside the scope of this project, but the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) conducted a review of some recruit and in-service training materials used by Washington State and the Pasco Police Department (PPD) with a special focus on instruction related to use of force. Focus group discus- sions with department personnel also provided insight into areas where the department could improve and expand training. Washington State has updated its training to include segments on de-escalating potentially dangerous situations. The project team identified the following findings and recommendations to address shortcomings in training and to help re-engineer training efforts related to de-escalation and reducing use of force. Finding 8 PPD officers receive nearly 130 hours31 of in-service training per year. This is considerably more in-service train- ing than officers in most police agencies receive, and it represents a tremendous opportunity for the PPD to ensure its members are receiving instruction on the key issues facing policing and the department today. How- ever, through the brief review conducted by PERF, it does not appear that current in-service training includes regular reinforcement of the concepts of critical decision making, de-escalation strategies, tactical communi- cations skills, and proficiency in less-lethal options. This type of reinforcement training is especially important in the PPD, because many of the new approaches to training in these areas have occurred in the last three to four years. Because approximately 85 percent of PPD officers have been with the department for three years or more, they have not have received the updated academy training on these topics. It is important to ensure that all officers have the same understanding of these complex issues and that key concepts and skills are regularly reinforced. Pasco is not unique in this need, as many agencies nationwide have inadequate training on use of force deci- sion making and strategies for de-escalating potentially volatile situations. ▇▇▇▇ documented this national issue in a recent survey and report.32 Recommendation 8.1 The PPD should review its use of force training to ensure it focuses on the concepts of sanctity of life, de- escalation, and other approaches that enhance both officer and public safety. 31. Each officer receives one 10-hour-40-minute shift of training per month for 12 months in the year. This adds up to 128 hours of training. 32. Re-Engineering Training on Police Use of Force, Critical Issues in Policing Series (Washington, DC: Police Executive Research Forum, 2015), ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇/assets/ reengineeringtraining1.pdf. 33. Guiding Principles on Use of Force (see note 4).

Officer Training. ‌ A full assessment of training was outside the scope of this project, but the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) conducted a review of some recruit and in-service training materials used by Washington State and the Pasco Police Department (PPD) with a special focus on instruction related to use of force. Focus group discus- sions with department personnel also provided insight into areas where the department could improve and expand training. Washington State has updated its training to include segments on de-escalating potentially dangerous situations. The project team identified the following findings and recommendations to address shortcomings in training and to help re-engineer training efforts related to de-escalation and reducing use of force. Finding 8 PPD officers receive nearly 130 hours31 of in-service training per year. This is considerably more in-service train- ing than officers in most police agencies receive, and it represents a tremendous opportunity for the PPD to ensure its members are receiving instruction on the key issues facing policing and the department today. How- ever, through the brief review conducted by PERF, it does not appear that current in-service training includes regular reinforcement of the concepts of critical decision making, de-escalation strategies, tactical communi- cations skills, and proficiency in less-lethal options. This type of reinforcement training is especially important in the PPD, because many of the new approaches to training in these areas have occurred in the last three to four years. Because approximately 85 percent of PPD officers have been with the department for three years or more, they have not have received the updated academy training on these topics. It is important to ensure that all officers have the same understanding of these complex issues and that key concepts and skills are regularly reinforced. Pasco is not unique in this need, as many agencies nationwide have inadequate training on use of force deci- sion making and strategies for de-escalating potentially volatile situations. ▇▇▇▇ PERF documented this national issue in a recent survey and report.32 Recommendation 8.1 The PPD should review its use of force training to ensure it focuses on the concepts of sanctity of life, de- escalation, and other approaches that enhance both officer and public safety. 31. Each officer receives one 10-hour-40-minute shift of training per month for 12 months in the year. This adds up to 128 hours of training. 32. Re-Engineering Training on Police Use of Force, Critical Issues in Policing Series (Washington, DC: Police Executive Research Forum, 2015), ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇/assets/ reengineeringtraining1.pdf. 33. Guiding Principles on Use of Force (see note 4).