http://tacticalk9usa.com

(Pictured above:  Team members lift police K9 to roof to begin a long line/controlled search for a suspect during a recent "Tactical K9 Deployments with SWAT" training scenario.)

We know law enforcement training budgets today are tight, restricted, and many are being cut.  However, updated and ongoing training must continue, particularly perishable skills and critical tactical tasks.  Attorney Martin J. Mayer recently sent a client memo to police chiefs and sheriffs in California addressing the obligation to provide training to law enforcement officers even when there is a cut back to training funds;

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"The duty to train officers is unaffected by reimbursement sources.  The lack of funding from outside sources does not, in any way, relieve a department of its obligation to train its officers.  The decision to eliminate training programs or reduce the amount of training, based upon the lack of reimbursement sources, would most likely be viewed, by a court, as deliberate indifference to the rights of others."

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Training and Consulting (TAC) Team provides contemporary training geared to not only make the job safer, more efficient and to limit liability, but we also provide training that is affordable and reasonable.  Be sure to check the sections below regarding "On-Site Training" and "Customized Courses" for additional information.

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"Things that go wrong in life are predictable and predictable is preventable."

- Gordon Graham

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Courses currently being offered

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Canine Liability: "Survival in a Litigious Society"

Being consistent, making good decisions and keeping proper documentation will limit your liability and make you a better dog handler.

Tactical Supervision of SWAT and K9

Attorney Bruce Praet once told a supervisor of SWAT and K9 during a canine liability class:  "You have twice the amount of liability."

This two-day class begins with "Survival in a Litigious Society" on day one with an emphasis on the liability for tactical supervisors dually responsible for both SWAT and K9 during training and field operations.  The class addresses the supervisor's role in planning a tactical deployment using a police service dog as well as issues related to training, selection and retention.  On the second day, the supervisor will participate in familiarization exercises, K9 deployments, and direct multiple tactical operators with a K9 team during several scenario-based tactical field operations.  The primary instructor for this class is Sergeant Bill Lewis II (Retired).

Tactical K9 Deployments for Patrol (and SWAT)

This class is recommended for K9 handlers who want to incorporate and plan more proficient and safer tactical movements into their K9-related deployments with patrol and/or tactical teams.  The class first begins without using police service dogs during “covert movement” training and continues by incorporating the police service dogs into various tactical deployments.  The class can include patrol or tactical personnel from the handler's agency.

The class will include:  covert movement, working with the police service dog in a tactical environment, planning the deployment, teamwork and responsibilities, tactical approaches and clearings, apprehensions and arrest techniques, and long line deployment. This class is offered as a 2-day or 3-day course.

SKIDDS ("SWAT & K9 Interacting During Deployment School")

This is the class, first introduced by Brad Smith, that formalized the standard concept of SWAT and K9 working together in a tactical environment.  The class will teach tactical (SWAT) operators and K9 teams how to work together and be more efficient during tactical field deployments.  The 3-day or 4-day POST-certified class is coordinated in association with Canine Tactical Operations (K9TacOps) and International Training Resources (ITR). 

Liability 101 for K9 Supervisors

This 5-hour course is an abbreviated version of "Survival in a Litigious Society" designed and intended strictly for K9 supervisors and K9 commanders.  Class size is limited to allow time for open discussions of current, potential or hypothetical liability problems associated with the participant's unit.

Comment from course eval:  This was an invaluable course that contained tons of relevant, realistic information.  Things taught and learned are applicable to all police organizations.  Bill Lewis does an outstanding job relating his experience and the realities of the K-9 world.  He talks about mistakes and solutions to issues that arise.

Canine Liability for Patrol Supervisors

This 4-hour class is offered to patrol supervisors and watch commanders with minimal knowledge of K9 operations and policies who are currently supervising or who may supervise K9 handlers to assist in limiting their liability and preparing for their “legal defense” in the event of a lawsuit.  The class will examine the “360 Degrees of Responsibility” involving a police service dog.

In most agencies, patrol supervisors, not the designated K9 supervisor, are assigned as the immediate supervisors for patrol K9 handlers and responsible for the first-line supervision and primary evaluation of the handlers.  Immediate supervisors and other patrol supervisors become “K9 supervisors” in terms of liability when a K9 team is deployed under their supervision during a field operation or works in the field under their general supervision.  Patrol supervisors are usually knowledgeable with patrol operations and liability aspects related to the other less lethal tools, but less familiar with patrol supervision and liability as it relates directly to the police service dog.

What is a Tactical Debrief ?

This 2-hour presentation takes you full circle with the debriefing process starting with the fundamentals involved when participating in and documenting tactical debriefs.  Next, it progresses into an actual debrief that reviews "The Manzanita Drive Incident" where a SWAT officer is tragically killed by another SWAT officer during a high risk warrant service.  The presentation continues with the lessons learned from the debriefed incident that served as a catalyst for a comprehensive training plan.  The presentation concludes with the benefits of an annual  proficiency test to determine the success of the comprehensive training program and evaluate the retention of policies and guidelines by team operators as well as their individual and team-related skills.   This presentation is conducted by Sergeant Bill Lewis II (Retired).