POST Releases New “Bias and Racial Profiling” Training Video
POST has released its newest training video, “Bias and Racial Profiling.” Available to view on the POST Learning Portal, this training program: 1) explores history as it relates to racial bias and community perceptions, 2) reviews potential ways biases may affect decision making, 3) reveals how bias and profiling impact the profession and influences public perception, 4) identifies various community perspectives and concerns; and, 5) reflects on diversity within law enforcement agencies.
The new video program offers group or individual trainee viewing modes and includes printable instructor and trainee documents for either group-facilitated or individual instruction. Successful completion of this training video meets the two-hour refresher requirement for Racial Profiling Training pursuant to Penal Code section 13519.4(i) and Regulation 1081 when this program is facilitated by a qualified racial profiling instructor.
Questions about the new “Bias and Racial Profiling” training video may be directed to Mike Barnes, Learning Technology Resources Bureau, at (916) 227-3454.
POST Offers Background Update Course Online
Law Enforcement Consultants from the Training Delivery and Compliance Bureau often present training courses at the regional level or in partnership with a training presenter or local agency. One of the courses TDC presents is the Background Investigations Update (30330) course which is a 4-hour presentation that is historically presented in-person. The audience typically consists of current background investigators from local agencies or private investigation firms, those looking to retire and start a second career, and those responsible for the supervision of background investigations.
The last in-person presentation was on March 12, 2020 in Fresno, which was attended by 31 people from throughout Region IV. A second presentation was scheduled for May 6, 2020 and was set to be held at the Clovis Police Department. Unfortunately, due to the changes forced upon us by COVID-19, in-person courses were cancelled.
To continue to serve our constituents, the course was quickly converted to an online “webinar” format and those that had pre-registered were notified of the change. On May 6th, POST was able to present the course online for thirteen attendees from around Region IV.
Questions regarding the online course may be directed to Law Enforcement Consultant Jeff Dunn, Training Delivery and Compliance Bureau, at (916) 227-4873.
POST Psychological Evaluator List Update
In response to inquiries from the field and in an effort to simplify finding POST compliant psychologists, POST recently made changes to the Psychological Evaluators List. Specifically, the list is now divided into two categories: POST compliant and non-compliant evaluators. POST compliant evaluators are at the top of the list and include psychologists who have completed the mandated online POST Psychological Screening Manual book-based exam and are current with their requisite 12 hours of biennial continuing professional education (CPE) training. Completion of both of these requirements are indicated by a “yes” in the relevant column on the POST Psychological Evaluator List page. Psychologists who have not met one or both of these requirements will either have nothing in the column or a red parenthetical number indicating their missing CPE hours.
Per Commission Regulation 1955(b), psychologists are responsible for meeting POST CPE requirements, including logging in to their CPE profiles to upload requisite training when completed. Departments should verify that their psychologist(s) are current with POST requirements, prior to conducting psychological evaluations. Additional evaluator compliance information, including specific training the psychologist has completed, can be viewed by clicking on “Evaluator Details” under the psychologist’s name.
Questions regarding the POST Psychological Evaluators List may be directed to Melani Singley, Strategic Communications and Research Bureau, (916) 227-4258.
POST Releases a Second “Did You Know? Hate Crimes: Not Obvious” Video
POST has released another video from the Did You Know? series, titled “Hate Crimes: Not Obvious.” The new video is now available to view or download on the POST Website or on the POST Learning Portal.
The second of two Did You Know? Hate Crimes-themed videos, this newest program encourages officers to sharpen their perception skills so they can more readily identify hate crimes, interact with the victims in a professional manner, and investigate hate crimes in an unbiased fashion—all while remaining neutral during investigations so as to not fall into “bias by proxy” through contact with any of the parties. As with the Did You Know? Hate Crimes: Face Hate video released in March, this second video reinforces the theme that it is in the best interest of everyone – especially law enforcement – to do their best in combating hate crimes.
A full-length training video, “Hate Crimes: Identification and Investigation,” is also available to POST agencies free of charge on the POST Learning Portal or on DVD format (visit the Training Videos Website).
Questions about both Did You Know? Hate Crimes videos may be directed to Mike Barnes, Learning Technology Resources Bureau, at (916) 227-3454.
POST Hosts an Online Meeting for Training Coordinators
On May 7, 2020, 62 training coordinators and representatives from Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties, and state law enforcement agencies, participated in an online meeting with their POST Region 3 consultant. Topics covered included: COVID-19 resources for law enforcement, recently issued POST bulletins regarding training and selection requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, the process for certifying webinar-based training courses for CPT credit, and other POST updates. The meeting provided participants a networking opportunity and information to assist their organizations during these challenging times.
Questions regarding the online meeting may be directed to Law Enforcement Consultant Karen Lozito, Training Delivery and Compliance Bureau, at (916) 227-0471.
POST's Bifurcation of the Supervisory Courses and New Curriculum
The Supervisory Course is an 80-hour (two week) mandatory training course for newly promoted Sergeants. Due to a Quality Assurance Program (QAP) audit and based on feedback from students who recently attended the Supervisory Course, it was determined that this course needed an update (the last update was in 2017). As a result, TPS conducted several workshops with presenters, facilitators, and program managers to update the curriculum. In addition, a Principled Policing component was added to the curriculum. The workshops were successful and aided in getting the entire curriculum updated, which is now available to all presenters on the POST Supervisory Course Instructor Network.
During these workshops a request was made to the POST Supervisory Course Coordinator to bifurcate the course into two modules to provide smaller agencies the opportunity to better manage their staffing needs. As a result, two separate modules for the Supervisory Course are now available, which provides another option for the presenters of the Supervisory Course. It should be noted that this is only an option, and not a requirement. A POST bulletin was created and sent to the Training Coordinators and presenters notifying them of this option.
Questions regarding this article may be directed to Bureau Chief Mike Radford, Training Program Services Bureau, at (916) 227-3925.
POST participates in CAPTO (Central Coast) Online Meeting for Training Coordinators
On May 21, 2020, POST participated with Training Coordinators from the California Association of Police Training Officers (CAPTO) Central Coast group for an online meeting. POST provided an update on recent POST Bulletins concerning the Emergency Background Protocol for Returning Peace Officers, Temporary Amendment to Regulation 1052(f), Emergency Requalification for Peace Officer Candidates, Optional Bifurcated Supervisory Course, and Temporary Suspension of the Requirement for Chemical Agent Exposure in Learning Domain 35 (Firearms/Chemical Agents) during Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency in POST Basic Courses.
The group discussed the different ways agencies are conducting training during the Coronavirus conditions and a lengthy discussion on options to present online/webinar formatted training. Agencies shared ideas and encouraged everyone in the group to continue to network and think outside the box to meet their own agency’s training needs.
Questions regarding the CAPTO online meeting may be directed to Christine Ford, Training Delivery and Compliance Bureau, at (916) 227-0472.