Two-Day Criminal Patrol and Drug Interdiction Course
Change in Driving Behavior and Unusual Driving Behavior
Description: This course is designed to train officers in those characteristics displayed by in-transit criminals who are driving a motor vehicle before, during or after the commission of a crime. It stresses human behavior characteristics, especially those involving nervousness due to a sudden release of adrenaline when a law enforcement officer is sighted by the criminal. The course consists of powerpoint segments coupled with a lecture format as well as a review of actual examples where use of the technique resulted in the detection of significant criminal activity.
Objectives: The student will understand the four phases associated with evaluating a vehicle (the approach, as passing, moving on, and the pursuit) and all of the critical elements of each phase. The student will further be given an in-depth understanding about how adrenaline affects the human body and the three basic types of people we encounter (moral, immoral and amoral) and why a clear understanding of these two issues can be used to explain why criminals in motor vehicles give themselves away to the alert law enforcement officer. The student will understand that everything they observe becomes part of what is termed “the picture”.
Vehicle Approaches
Description: An in-depth discussion on the most effective and safest ways to approach a motor vehicle during a traffic stop. This class has been directly credited with saving the lives of two law enforcement officers in Ohio.
Objectives: Will give the student an appreciation for officer safety concerns during a vehicle stop and will give a better understanding of why different types of approaches, or not approaching, during a traffic contact can be important.
Indicators of possible criminal activity
Description: Teaches the basic characteristics associated with identifying criminals. Includes those items commonly seen in major criminal arrests.
Objectives: The student will have a better understanding of physical and human behavior indicators commonly associated with detection of criminal activity during a motor vehicle stop. Most importantly, the student will understand that physical indicators are only a small part of the picture. They will understand the term “overcompensation” when associated with indicators.
Questioning and Evaluating during Traffic Stops/Contacts
Description: The most popular, and the most important, class. Deals directly with human behavior and the two most important indicators of criminal activity.
Objectives: The student will know the two most important indicators of criminal activity, how to better assess nervous clues displayed by people, and how to evaluate human behavior characteristics when determining how to proceed on a traffic stop and possible criminal investigation.
Understanding and Avoiding Illegal Profiling
Description: An explanation of the history of certain types of profiles. This class stresses that illegal profiling, whether racial, age, gender, or otherwise, does not work. In this day of constant attacks on law enforcement agencies alleging violations of civil rights, this instruction is timely and important. The instructors teach from experience about why illegal profiling does not work, is not necessary, and what the real indications of criminal activity are.
Objectives: The student will understand the difference between legal and illegal profiling and will clearly understand that illegal profiling based on age, race, sex, religious or ethnic background does not work.
Canine Usage
Description: A look at the use of drug detection dogs. Provides insight into the usefulness of the canine team, legal issues related to the use of the team, and what may be searched when a canine alerts to a motor vehicle.
Objectives: Will allow students to understand the abilities and limitations of drug canines and how best to utilize the drug detection canine teams during a traffic stop.
Consent Searches
Description: An examination of the pro’s and con’s of consent searches, the 90 second rule, and how human behavior assessment guides decisions related to consent searches.
Objectives: Will allow students to better understand when and when not to utilize consent search techniques.