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Training Goals and Objectives

There is arguably no single event that can traumatize a police agency more than a police officer involved shooting incident. The criticism and intense scrutiny generated

by the media, community activists, the general public, and the criminal justice system itself, can be enormous. Civil judgments resulting from such cases can debilitate a police organization for years, have an adverse effect on employee morale, and hamper agency effectiveness through the erosion of public opinion. It is, therefore, imperative that every police department prepare in earnest for this inevitable eventuality. It is also essential that the investigator charged with the task of leading a police officer involved shooting investigation become as equally prepared.

The purpose of this course is to provide attendees with a basic investigative model that is applicable to all officer involved shootings incidents, regardless of the size of their department. Police officer involved shootings are vastly different from any other type of homicide investigations training

investigation. The stakes for the shooting officer and his department are so high that it is imperative that the investigation be conducted in a prescribed manner. This course will provide those in attendance with the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to handle any deadly force incident.

Training Audience, Format and Content

This course is intended for those investigators who are specifically assigned to the criminal investigation of officer involved shootings and in-custody deaths. It is also appropriate for those detectives or uniform personnel who may be required to assist in these types of investigations. Crime scene technicians, medical examiner/coroner investigators, supervisors, military investigators, criminal analysts, and prosecuting attorneys would also benefit from the training.

The course is conducted in 2½ day sessions. Instruction is provided through the use of a PowerPoint presentation that makes liberal use of authentic crime scene photographs. This insures that the topics discussed are portrayed as realistically as possible. Numerous handouts and video tapes are used as instructional aids.

Daily content and course schedule:

Day One:

Definitions of Deadly Force / Model Use of Force Policies
The Use of Force Matrix
In-depth Examination of Notable Cases (Amadou Diallo, Russell Weston, Ruby Ridge, etc.)
Landmark Court Decisions (Garner v. Tennessee, Graham v. Connor, Garrity v. New Jersey, etc.)
Lethal Force Statistics
Why Is the Investigation So Important?
Who Should Conduct the Investigation?
Fait Accompli
The Shooting Team Concept
The Three Phases of a Lethal Force Investigation
Proper Procedures at Police Shootings
How to Handle the Shooting Officer
The Role Of Internal Affairs
The Police Shooting Checklist
Interviewing Witnesses and Witness Officers

Day Two:

The Police Shooting Crime Scene (Mincey vs. Arizona )
Perceptual Distortions
How Subjects Are Shot in the Back
How to Prepare for the Grand Jury or the Inquest
Multi-jurisdictional Investigations
In-depth Examination of Gunshot Wounds (Contact, Intermediate & Distant)
The Autopsy (Pattern Injuries, Coup / Contra Coup, Surrender wounds, Defensive Wounds, Supported Wounds, etc.)
Suicide By Cop
In Custody Deaths (SICDS, Cocaine Psychosis, Excited Delirium, etc.)
Pepper Spray / Hog Tying Deaths
Dealing With the Media
Post Shooting (Post Traumatic Stress disorder)
Non-Lethal Alternatives to Deadly Force

Day Three (½):

The Dark Side of Officer Involved Shootings
Unfounded Shootings
Shooting At Moving Vehicles
Shootings of the Mentally Ill
Shots Fired...Officer Down (The Officer as a Victim)
When Police Officers Commit Murder
Case Studies