TacticalDebriefs.com operates under the auspices of Training and Consulting [TAC] Team, LLC.  In addition to managing and facilitating its two web sites and an Online K9 Store, TAC Team provides training and services related to law enforcement and the tactical community.  TAC Team retains and utilizes the services and expertise of highly respected law enforcement and law enforcement-related individuals with various tactical and K9 backgrounds to assist its efforts and works both independently and in conjunction with other businesses and agencies to provide a variety of tactical and K9-related services and consulting for its clients.  The following training courses and services are provided through Training and Consulting Team;

Training

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;

"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."

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.

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

- Gordon Graham

"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).

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 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 the "covert movement" training and then continues by incorporating the police service dogs into various tactical deployments.  The class can include patrol personnel or tactical operators 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.

Pictured below:  Tactical operators and K9 handler coordinate lifting the police dog to the roof to begin a search deployment during a recent "Tactical K9 Deployments with SWAT" training scenario.

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) officers 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) or International Training Resources (ITR). 

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.

This 8-hour class serves as an essential phase for the K9 handler and K9 supervisor to operate a successful K9 unit and to assist in preparing for their potential "legal defense" in the event of a lawsuit by examining TAC Team's "360 Degrees of Responsibility" involving a police service dog.  The class serves three simultaneous purposes;  addressing canine liability for handlers/supervisors, supervision of a K9 Unit and management of a K9 Unit.  The class will include information and discussions about case law, department policy, operational manual, use of force, selection and retention, training, documentation, statistics, deployments, debriefs, evidence collection and retention, report writing, and discipline.

Covert Movement for Patrol and K9

K9 Stress Inoculation

This 8-hour reality-based training class will cover stress and the effects caused by stressful encounters during deployments and how inoculating the K9 to doses of stress through reality-based training scenarios will increase the K9's confidence and effectiveness.  Actual deployments, illustrating the importance and the benefits of stress inoculation training will be examined and discussed during the lecture. The class will include classroom and field training scenarios.  Students can attend with or without a police service dog.  A recent student evaluation noted:  "I should have brought my dog." This class is coordinated in association with Gold Coast K9 and the instructor is Rodney Spicer. 

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.

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 TAC Team's "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.

TAC Team Provides On-Site Training

We can provide on-site training with staff and instructors available to travel to an agency or organization to conduct most of its courses.  On-site training hosted by an agency or organization typically saves significant money from the training budget by eliminating many of those costs normally associated with travel, lodging and per diem.  Contact us for more information.

TAC Team Provides Customized Courses

We realize every agency does not train the same nor deploy the same as other agencies.  The courses offered by TAC Team can be customized and modified to the specifications of an agency with respect to its training standards, policies and deployment procedures.  Contact us for more information.

Other Services

Consulting

TAC Team provides consulting services for law enforcement, government entities, private businesses and individuals.  We can provide the consultant with the appropriate experience related to law enforcement, tactical teams and operations, field operations, patrol and tactical supervision, and use of force, with a specific emphasis on K9 operations, training, supervision, liability, deployment, policies/procedures, and handler compensation.  Additionally, we have extensive experience in labor negotiations, management relations, and employee representation.  If we cannot provide the appropriate consultant, we can assist clients in locating one.

Expert Witnesses - Are you in trouble?  Need help?

TAC Team can provide expert witnesses and case preparation consultants in civil and criminal cases representing Plaintiffs and Defendants.  Areas of expertise include K9 operations and supervision, tactical team operations and supervision, patrol operations, and general law enforcement-related matters involving supervision, employee/management relations, and use of force.

Audits for SWAT and K9 Units

TAC Team will conduct thorough and comprehensive operational audits for tactical teams and K9 units that will include, but not limited to,  a review of policies, procedures, operations, supervision, training, litigation, use of force,  documentation, discipline, and standards/certifications.  An audit will include  interviews and training session observations.  The structure and content of the audit as a final audit report or assessment can be determined.

Case Studies and Tactical Reviews

TAC Team will conduct case studies or tactical reviews of critical and significant incidents for patrol-related incidents, tactical team operations, K9 deployments, and specialty unit operations.

Report Reviews and Critiques

TAC Team will review use of force, after action reports and K9 use reports and provide general comments about the incident as well as critiques directed at improving the report writing content and style and address any related training issues if needed.  This service is provided with multiple options, including an informal initial consultation provided free of charge based on a single submission from a handler or supervisor from a single agency, based on time available and quantity, or a more formal process where reports are submitted by supervisors as a matter of routine.  Confidentiality agreements or notices may be required to accompany reports submitted to address any applicable laws pertaining to distribution of reports as well as potential discovery issues.  Contact us for more information.