October 2011

FIRST “DID YOU KNOW” VIDEO RELEASED

The first “Did You Know?” video was premiered at the SAFE Driving Campaign meeting October 4 in Garden Grove. "The “Did You Know?” video series are 30 to 90 second video spots that deliver a strong training message in a quick and dynamic way. They are produced by the POST Learning Technology Resources Bureau. The topic of the first video was the importance of peace officers wearing seat belts. This is one of several key messages from the SAFE Driving Campaign, which is aimed at reducing fatal and serious injury law enforcement traffic collisions. This video has been viewed 12,000 times in the three weeks since it was released and can be viewed on the SAFE Driving Campaign Website or on the Learning Portal under Quick Links.

Questions about the “Did You Know?” video series may be directed to Bureau Chief Jan Bullard, Learning Technology Resources Bureau, at (916) 227-4829.

Questions about the SAFE Driving Campaign may be directed to Senior Consultant Robert “R.C.” Smith, Training Program Services Bureau, at (916) 227-3902.

BI-ANNUAL SIMULATOR TRAINING PRESENTER WORKSHOP HELD

Law Enforcement Driving Simulators (LEDS) and Force Option Simulators (FOS) are critical components in support of training at the 21 Regional Skills Training Centers (RSTCs) throughout the state.

The importance of simulation training lies in the ability to present the trainee with high-stress/high-threat situations in a safe and controlled environment, in a way that is safer and more cost efficient than with “live” situation training.

In October, simulator training managers and instructors from each of the RSTCs met in Garden Grove for the bi-annual simulator presenter workshop. The workshop consisted of discussion on training issues, curriculum updates, and technical matters encountered when using simulator technology.

The workshop included the presentation of a train-the-trainer course based on the “Below 100 Initiative” – the aim of which is to reduce the number of line-of-duty deaths of peace officers to fewer than 100 in a year. The “Below 100 Initiative” was conceived and developed by Travis Yates, long-time officer safety advocate and Tulsa Police Department Captain, and by the Editor of Law Officer Magazine, Mr. Dale Stockton (Carlsbad Police Department, retired), an advocate of officer safety and survival training. Captain Yates and Mr. Stockton are actively involved in the SAFE Driving Campaign.

Questions about the simulator training may be directed to Senior Consultant Cliff Peppers, Training Program Services Bureau, at (916) 227-4887.

PELLETB RESEARCH UPDATE

In July 2011, the third phase of the longitudinal research project to update and enhance the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) commenced. This phase consists of pilot testing reasoning items in academy classes and collecting assessment scores to determine if the addition of these items to the PELLETB will provide predictive evidence of success in the academy.

In this first phase, POST partnered with researchers at CSU, Sacramento, to review the current PELLETB, exams in other states, and literature relevant to peace officer selection. The second phase consisted of pretesting reasoning items in the PELLETB, which began in spring 2011 and will continue through the end of the year.

Initial research indicated that the ability of the PELLETB to predict peace officer performance may be enhanced by the addition of reasoning items. The results of the pilot test will guide the development of new PELLETB versions.

Questions about the PELLETB research may be directed to Personnel Selection Consultant II Tammura Brown, Standards and Evaluation Services Bureau, at (916) 227-2810.

SHERMAN BLOCK SUPERVISORY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE CONVENES A FACILITATOR ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP

In October 2011, Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SBSLI) staff conducted the first session of the program’s Facilitator Assessment Workshop, with 26 facilitator candidates in attendance. The workshop is the basic training course for prospective facilitators and consists of two three-day sessions. During Session I, workshop participants receive training on “Bloom’s Taxonomy,” classroom management, adaptive learning strategies, paralanguage, the “Five Energy States,” and the ”Seven Essential Skills of Effective Facilitators.” At the conclusion of Session I, class members are assigned a case study to present during the second part of their training (which has been scheduled for November 3-5, 2011). They are also familiarized with the rubric that will be used to evaluate their case study presentations.

During the intersession, each participant is teamed with a tenured SBSLI mentor/coach who will provide technical advice as needed. Upon returning to the second session of the training, each student will deliver the pre-assigned individual presentation and a co-facilitated presentation. All presentations will be evaluated by tenured SBSLI facilitators, based on the categories identified in the rubric previously reviewed.

Completion of the Facilitator Assessment Workshop is the culmination of an intensive screening process for appointment as a facilitator. Candidates for facilitator positions must be an SBSLI graduate. The next step entails referral by a facilitator for assignment as an auditor at SBSLI classes. As an auditor, the candidate observes dynamics of curriculum delivery and is intermittently given the facilitator reins. Following service as an auditor and demonstration of competence, the auditor may be enrolled in a Facilitator Assessment Workshop.

Questions about the SBSLI facilitator training or the SBSLI program in general may be directed to Senior Consultant Charles Evans, Center for Leadership Development Bureau, at (916) 227-2824.

UPDATE ON REVISIONS TO THE POST PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT FORMS AND TRAINING

A meeting was held in late June to review and update the POST Personal History Statement (PHS) for Peace Officer (2-251) and Public Safety Dispatcher (2-255). Participants consisted of background investigators representing large and small law enforcement agencies. Recommendations for changes to the PHS were judged for job relevancy, statewide applicability, and adherence to POST regulations.

The draft PHS forms are being reviewed by POST’s legal counsel and should be available to the field in early 2012.

Concurrently, the POST Background Investigation Course and the Background Investigation Manual are being reviewed for possible incorporation of additional training/guidance specific to conducting backgrounds on candidates with prior peace officer experience. Further, the feasibility of mandating the POST Background Investigation Course for all investigators who will perform this function is being explored.

Questions about the Personal History Statement forms and related proposals may be directed to Personnel Selection Consultant Melani Singley, Standards and Evaluation Services Bureau, at (916) 227-4258.

SAFE DRIVING CAMPAIGN STAKEHOLDERS MEET

A meeting of the SAFE Driving Campaign was held this October in Garden Grove. The SAFE Driving Campaign is aimed at reducing fatal and serious injury law enforcement traffic collisions. The campaign has three stakeholder groups to assist in achieving this goal: 1) an Advisory Board concerned with national awareness efforts, 2) a Research Team responsible for identifying causes and interventions associated with officer-involved collisions, and 3) a Vehicle Operations and Training Advisory Council (VOTAC) that focuses on the advancement of best policy and training practices.

Approximately 50 individuals from throughout California and the United States met to discuss various aspects of the SAFE Driving Campaign. During this meeting:

• As” Subcommittee was established to specifically focus on fatal and serious injury law enforcement traffic collisions involving law enforcement motorcycles.

• The Advisory Council and VOTAC worked on the development of a SAFE Driving Pledge to promote awareness and obtain organizational commitment to reducing officer deaths and injuries resulting from vehicle collisions.

• POST announced the first SAFE Driving Symposium to be held October 2012 in San Diego.

• The Research Team updated the status of each research project currently in progress. These included:

• Fatigue and Distraction research studying the effects of fatigue and distraction on emergency and routine driving;
• An Agency Culture Study to explain how officer attitudes and mindsets vary from agency to agency and how those attitudes and mindsets relate to traffic collision rates;
• A State-Level Differences Study to explain how POST standards and state laws (among other state-level differences) impact officer collision rates by state; and
• Epidemiology research to evaluate how personal and demographic characteristics of individual officers relate to agency collision rates.

• The next SAFE Driving Campaign meeting will be held in March 2012.

Questions about the SAFE Driving Campaign may be directed to Senior Consultant Robert “R.C.” Smith, Training Program Services Bureau, at (916) 227-3902.

INSTITUTE OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION PRESENTERS WORKSHOP

The Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation (ICI) Presenters meeting was held in San Diego during October. ICI meetings are held to address topics, issues, and changes to the Institute. Attendees normally include a designated representative from each ICI presenter, who is also the POST point of contact and is responsible for overall course presentation and oversight within their organization.

The first day of this workshop included all eight ICI course presenters and the course administrator for each Foundation Specialty Course. This was the first time in several years all course coordinators directly involved in ICI got together to exchange information related to their courses. A brief overview on each of the 14 foundation specialty courses was presented by designated course administrators. The participants were able to highlight aspects of their courses and see how the other Foundation Specialty courses aligned with the ones they present. The workshop also included a review of the current status of the Core Investigations Course, an update on the revisions in the ICI Instructor Training Course, and information regarding the 2012 Detective Training and Instructor Development Symposium and related award opportunities.

Day two of the workshop was a half-day session that consisted of only the course presenters. The agenda included training on contract invoicing provided by POST staff member Kim Sharman, consideration of alternate schedules for presentations for the two-week courses, review of instructor compensation to ensure parity among presenters, suggestions on improving usability of the POST instructor extranet, and revision efforts for standardized course evaluations. The next ICI meeting will be held in May 2012.

Questions about the ICI Presenters Workshop maybe directed to Senior Consultant Anne Brewer, Training Program Services Bureau, at (916) 227-4895.

BASIC TRAINING BUREAU PRESENTS THE ACADEMY DIRECTOR-COORDINATOR WORKSHOP

During October, Basic Training Bureau staff held the third Academy Director-Coordinator Workshop in Anaheim. There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the training that is provided at these workshops. It addresses the needs of newly appointed Basic Academy Directors and Coordinators.

The training is required by Regulation and serves as the Academy Director’s and Coordinator’s “survival” guide on running academies. The topical areas covered are: POST regulations, course certification and maintenance, student workbooks, training and testing specifications, Basic Course Certification Review process, instructional design, test security, ethics, leadership, academy management and liability, physical training, scenario management, safety guidelines, and risk management.

This is an opportunity for the new Directors and Coordinators to interact with their peers and develop relationship and share “best practices.” This workshop uses adult learning techniques and is very interactive.

Questions about the Director-Coordinator Workshop may be directed to Senior Consultant Robert Ziglar, Basic Training Bureau, at (916) 227-4259.

FINANCIAL INTEGRITY AND STATE MANAGER’S ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

Government Code sections 13400 through 13407, known as the Financial Integrity and State Manager’s Accountability Act (FISMA), were enacted to reduce resource waste and strengthen controls. FISMA requires the head of each state agency to maintain effective systems of internal control, evaluate the effectiveness of these controls on an ongoing basis, and report on the adequacy of the agency’s systems of internal control by December 31 of each odd-numbered year. These reports are submitted to the Department of Finance (DOF) and are posted on the Governor’s transparency website.

POST submitted its’ first FISMA report to the DOF on December 31, 2009. In preparation for the 2011 reports, DOF contacted POST and asked for permission to use POST’s 2009 FISMA report as an example for other state departments and agencies at their Quarterly Meeting of State Auditors. POST was pleased to grant this permission and staff is proud to have produced a professional product that will be used as an example for other state agencies.

Questions about the FISMA may be directed to Bureau Chief Darla Engler, Administrative Services Bureau, at (916) 227-3907.

 
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - STATUS OF CURRENT LEGISLATION

The following are bills in Legislative Session 2011/12 on which the Commission has taken, or will consider taking, a position.

Questions about the Legislative Updates may be directed to Legislative Liaison Karen Lozito, Executive Office, at (916) 227-2085.

The Administrative Progress Report is a monthly status report that informs POST Commissioners and the California law enforcement community of recent progress on POST projects and instructional programs under development, and other information of importance to our mission to continually enhance the professionalism of California law enforcement.

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