Professional Development and Leadership

Field Training Officer School

• January 15 2019 - January 18 2019

Gang Training - New England Street Level Gangs: Identifications, Observations, and Investigations

• June 28, 2018 at 8:00 AM - Friday, June 29 2018 at Vermont Police Academy

The Vermont Police Academy is thrilled to have the New England Gang School provide this 2-day gang training to the Vermont law enforcement community. The training will focus on actual practices and presented in an easy to understand curriculum setting. The primary focus is on the recognition and understanding of gang activity, behavior, and investigations. It is noted the indicators of deception, criminal behavior, individual actions, or group conspiracy are the same regardless of the crime. And so, an understanding of the skills taught, can be applicable in any jurisdiction.

This course does not simply review unnecessary YouTube “shock” videos or focus on outdated materials from the west coast; nor is it franchised or borrowed. To the contrary, you will learn with specific purpose and focus on New England current trends that are applicable to you. The mission of the New England Gang School is to provide a fresh, current, and local, prospective on gang intervention with a focus on professionalism and future court case preparation. The training is presented in such a manner that truly respects the individual subjects of your investigations and encounters; thereby increasing your successes and minimizing your professional exposure and subsequent liability.

Introduction to Gangs and Gang Life: This blockof instruction will discuss the basics; however, it will be presented through a unique and more specific manner than a traditional Intro to Gangs course. Whether you are an experienced investigator or a relatively new officer, this course will introduce you to the kinds of practices, design, and identifiers of New England style gangs. The presentation will include actual “take-away” lessons that can be employed, rather than just a generic overview. This course aims to be unique in that it specifically addresses the kinds of local gangs you encounter in the course of your work; as they relate, or do not relate, to the national gangs more commonly discussed.

Characteristics of Armed Persons: The behavior of armed persons varies far beyond just “waistband adjustments” and “straight-arms.” There are specific behaviors that give cues regarding whether a weapon is carried, hidden, passed off, or gone, and the behaviors can vary from street encounters, to car stops, to bars, or house parties. All will be discussed. The recognition of armed persons, as well as the recognition of deception, is the fundamental building block to the recovery of firearms. This portion does not cover the defensive tactics or the use of force required to combat the presence of firearms, but rather, the types of identifiers that assist in the recognition, detection, and location of firearms.

Motorcycle Gangs: A look at how 1%er Motorcycle Gangs manifest here in New England. Many of the motorcycle gang courses we have all taken will often only discuss the national trends and the historical crimes. This course aims to cover that information as well, yet with attention to the manner in which the local bike gangs are organizing here.

Honor in Policing Gangs: This portion will discuss the reality of how the youth get drawn into the gangs before they even recognize where they are, and how this new “family” becomes, in many cases, the only option. This is a discussion based on the words of former and current gang members. The purpose of this portion is that it benefits us all to hear the role that law enforcement plays in a gang member’s personal story. And how those individual contacts that you have with gang suspects, can add up, and become as significant to them as any other life contacts that they have. It can be eye-opening to view the gang members’ perception of us, through the lens of our own actions. Ask yourself a question, “If the gang member you arrested today, were to turn their life around, and then write a book in 20 years… What kind of character would you be in that book?” Were you the "animal" who arrested them? Or were you the good cop who caught them? And can you be proud of your actions during your history of encounters with them?

Gang Training - New England Street Level Gangs: Identifications, Observations, and Investigations

• June 26, 2018-  June 27, 2018 at Camp Johnson, Colchester Vermont.

• Coordinator: Cindy Taylor-Patch
• Length of course: 1 Day (8 hours)
• Course hours: 0800 – 1630
• Dates/Locations:
  • March 20, 2017 at Essex Police Department
  • April 19th, 0830 - 1630, at the Windsor County Sheriff's Department
• Tuition: Free

• Registration: Fax the in-service registration form (Word or PDF) to 802-483-2343 or email it to our registrar at gail.williams@vermont.gov

Email Director of Training Cindy Taylor-Patch for more information.

Course Description

Taught by experienced police officers and professionals from the disability services field, this course will cover a variety of issues surrounding this sometimes controversial topic.  Experts from many state and community agencies and advocates collaborated with VT officers to develop a curriculum that covers some basic ways to recognize a psychiatric or developmental disability and suggestions for positive ways to respond.  Our main purpose for offering this training is to promote officer safety and the safety of all others involved.  Other topics to be discussed include suicide risk factors, self-harming behaviors (ex. "cutting"), relevant laws and legal issues, stigma, resources and treatment options, and most importantly, de-escalation and communication skills.  Officers will gain the skills needed to professionally and effectively interact with people in crisis

• Coordinator:  Leslie Bodette
• Length of Course:  80 hours (2 weeks, Monday-Friday)
• Course Hours:  0830-1630 hours
• Date:  May 8 – 19, 2017
• Tuition:  Commuting-$272.50 includes lunch and materials), Overnight- $584.50 (includes materials lodging, and meals)
• Pre-requisite:  Must be full-time certified, having taken the Basic Academy Crash Investigation course, have field experience, and a high aptitude and interest in collision investigation.
• Registration:  Contact the Vermont Police Academy at 802-483-6228,  Fax the in-service registration form (Word or PDF) to 802-483-2343 or email it to our registrar at gail.williams@vermont.gov
  
  • This is an excellent opportunity for first line supervisors, as it will improve skills and better enable training and supervision.
  • This is a demanding course that involves homework, practical exercises, and advanced mathematical calculations.Successful completion provides a significant increase in collision investigation skills and will lead to being able to offer expert testimony.
  • Topics include calculating speed from skid marks and scuff marks, scale diagramming, lamp examination, photography and determination of physical evidence.The instructors will provide individualized attention as needed and all participants will actively take part in class, which will help develop familiarity with presenting this material, as might be done in court.
  • Officers will need to review their Basic Crash Investigation Manual and materials and bring the following: scientific calculator, drawing compass, mechanical pencil, and soft eraser. All other materials will be provided.
  • This course is a pre-requisite to Advanced and Reconstruction levels.

Interacting with People Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis

• Coordinator: Cindy Taylor-Patch
• Length of course: 1 Day (8 hours)
• Course hours: 0800 – 1630
• Dates/Locations:
  • September 6, 2016 at Vermont Fire Academy
  • September 14, 2016 at Milton Fire Department
• Tuition: Free

• Registration: Fax the in-service registration form (Word or PDF) to 802-483-2343 or email it to our registrar at gail.williams@vermont.gov

Email Director of Training Cindy Taylor-Patch for more information.

Course Description

Taught by experienced police officers and professionals from the disability services field, this course will cover a variety of issues surrounding this sometimes controversial topic.  Experts from many state and community agencies and advocates collaborated with VT officers to develop a curriculum that covers some basic ways to recognize a psychiatric or developmental disability and suggestions for positive ways to respond.  Our main purpose for offering this training is to promote officer safety and the safety of all others involved.  Other topics to be discussed include suicide risk factors, self-harming behaviors (ex. "cutting"), relevant laws and legal issues, stigma, resources and treatment options, and most importantly, de-escalation and communication skills.  Officers will gain the skills needed to professionally and effectively interact with people in crisis