To register for courses please contact Kirstie Saur at 830-379-1224 ext. 255 or email at kirstie.saur@co.guadalupe.tx.us. The following classes are being offered at the Guadalupe County Sheriff s Office. The courses are open to all local, state and federal active and honorably retired sworn law enforcement officers, corrections officers and telecommunication officers. Unless otherwise indicated, all the courses are FREE and will be held at the Guadalupe County Sheriff s Office, 2617 N. Guadalupe St., Seguin, Texas 78155. JANUARY 2018 Stress Management for Today s Policing January 22, 2018 8 TCOLE Hours Nearly twice the number of officers take their own life than those killed in the line of duty. Stress Management continues to remain an important and underappreciated aspect of law enforcement. Even after decades of research and training, law enforcement practitioners continue to assume that some things are just part of the job. The common exposure to anguish, dangers of the job, and career responsibility only accompany the everchanging police culture. These factors have made stress demands on law enforcement even more difficult. Obviously, there is no way to remove stress and burnout; however, there are steps and techniques that can be used to ensure effective stress management. Understanding and utilizing appropriate emotional intelligence is a key element in police matters and can be seen as a root problem in a majority of police controversy. The ability for an officer to express and control their emotions is essential, but so is the ability to understand, interpret, and respond to the emotions of others. A law enforcement practitioner s ability to manage and use their emotions effectively and in a positive way is crucial for stress management and career survival while aiding in and helping establish positive community relations. This course is designed for and been delivered to every level of law enforcement officer from patrol to command staff. Register online: www.pletraining.com Tuition: $139.00 Per Officer or $119.00 Group Rate (5+)
Intermediate Arrest, Search& Seizure January 24-25, 2018 Instructor: Sgt. Locker 15 TCOLE Hours Students will advance their knowledge and understanding of the legal and logical processes and procedures regarding the detention, arrest and warrant service, and citizen s rights in their line of duty. Students will be reminded of the reasonable expectations of citizen s rights and privacy and the issues involving their decisions accordingly. Students will be able to make better judgment in their detention, arrest and searching of citizens and property in their line of duty. Register via E-Mail: Kirstie.saur@co.guadalupe.tx.us FEBRUARY 2018 Intermediate Crime Scene Search February 5-8, 2018 The student will be able to summarize the following: Instructor: Lehman 32 TCOLE Hours 1. The legal aspects of a crime scene search 2. A process for preparing a crime scene investigation 3. Major issues of crime scene investigation 4. The use of sketches during crime scene searches 5. The use of photographs during crime scene searches 6. The process of producing fingerprint evidence during a crime scene search 7. The process of identifying, collecting and preserving crime scene evidence for examination/analysis 8. A process of collecting and preserving potential DNA evidence 9. The process of investigating specific crime scene areas: burglary, theft, robbery, assault, sexual assault, homicide, suicide, kidnapping and poisoning 10. How to perform a simulated crime scene search, which will be coordinated by the instructor 11. A process of identifying, documenting, securing and processing potential computer and other electronic evidence Register via E-Mail: Kirstie.saur@co.guadalupe.tx.us
Law Enforcement Leadership Development February 26, 2018 8 TCOLE Hours Leadership Development is an introduction to five of the most crucial leadership pillars needed for current and future leaders. Officers will explore the components of Leadership Styles including Servant Leadership, Generational Differences, Mentoring & Reverse Mentoring, Communication, and Conflict Resolution. Each topic presents the traditional aspect of each section combined with current events/best practices, and is supported with small group assignments and discussion. This leadership course provides valuable and useful content for the patrol officer making critical split decisions, to the supervisor and mid management supervisor attempting to build rapport, communicate effectively, and solve crucial manpower and shift related issues. Further, this course assists executive management in properly utilizing the appropriate leadership style, communication, and conflict resolution techniques to properly execute the mission at hand. A mixture of officers covering the chain of command increases the group discussions and practical exercise. This course has been presented to every level of officer from patrol to Chiefs of large metropolitan cities and constantly receives fantastic reviews. Register online: www.pletraining.com Tuition: $139.00 Per Officer or $119.00 Group Rate (5+) MARCH 2018 Investigation of Apparent Suicide March 5-6, 2018 Over the course of the career of most police officers and detectives, the likelihood of being sent to a report of a suicide is much greater than that of most other scenes involving the death of a human being. The suicide crime scene is one of the most difficult crime scenes to investigate. This crime scene carries with it the temptation to make a determination of the cause of death as suicide, long before the facts and available evidence can support that determination. The emotional impact of suicide on the surviving family members and friends makes this scene even more difficult to investigate than some homicide scenes. No one wants to believe that someone they loved has resorted to an act of self-destruction. Rather than face this unpleasant truth, surviving family members and friends will believe that the investigator has reached the wrong conclusion. They believe that the investigation was conducted poorly, incompetently, or unprofessionally. The detective conducting this crime scene investigation needs to be ready to have his or her work questioned by
the surviving family of the victim. A crime scene that has been processed correctly will assist the detective in answering those questions. Advanced Search & Seizure March 7, 2018 8 TCOLE Hours Search and Seizure case law is consistently changing in the United States and this directly impacts law enforcement officers ability to legally conduct searches during criminal investigations, pedestrian encounters, and traffic stops. All law enforcement officers are familiar with the words of the 4 th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. In theory, this should be an easy principle to follow; however, it is one of the most challenging parts of real world policing. Thousands of cases are lost every year across the country due to illegal searches by law enforcement. This one day training course will provide officers the most up-to-date court rulings impacting search and seizure. Officers will not only get a refresher on the 4 th Amendment and search warrant exceptions, a practical application will be applied. Real world scenarios will be presented in class to encourage discussions. Often times, classes become divided on whether an example was a good search or bad search. Officers will learn from the scenarios and are better prepared to answer the tough questions in court if a warrant is challenged. Far too often officers rely heavily on the buzzwords consent to search, officer safety, plain view, or protective sweep, believing that using this terminology alone grants them the right to search and/or seize items during a lawful encounter. However, when questioned in court, the officers fail to articulate on the buzzwords creating reasonable doubt in the eyes of the Judge or Jury. This course provides sound search and seizure techniques that will aid officers in building a solid case supported by evidence. Officers will also learn how to draft penal interest search warrants, anticipatory search warrants, and techniques to overcome the Knock & Announce requirements. Over the past several years, dozens of law enforcement officers have been sent to prison as a result of falsifying search warrant affidavits. Case studies will be presented to show officers how taking shortcuts in search warrant affidavits can lead to unemployment and felony convictions. Register online: www.pletraining.com Tuition: $139.00 Per Officer or $119.00 Group Rate (5+)
Intermediate Child Abuse March 21-23, 2018 The student will learn the following about child abuse: Instructor: Lehman 24 TCOLE Hours 1. Introduction and overview of child abuse and neglect 2. Authority and responsibility in child abuse cases 3. Identifying forms of child abuse 4. Components and characteristics of child abuse 5. Investigative strategies 6. Special investigative issues APRIL 2018 Register online: kirstie.saur@co.guadalupe.tx.us Patrol Officer Drug Investigations April 23-24, 2018 Drug-related crimes are impacting every community across the United States. Law Enforcement agencies devote a tremendous amount of resources to combat illegal narcotic activity. Uniform patrol officers are in a prime position to target drug offenders. From the drug addict, to the upper-level dealers, patrol officers must be prepared to handle these unpredictable criminals. There are various techniques and tactics that patrol officers can utilize to be more effective at arresting drug violators. The officers must be familiar with basic drug identification as well as search and seizure case law. Know & Talk operations, when conducted properly, can be a very successful tactic to combat illegal narcotic trafficking. Officers must receive proper training and understand the limitations of knock & talks in order for this tactic to be effective. All too often, drug dealers are arrested, prosecuted, and found not guilty due to poor report writing or officer testimony in court. Proper report writing and courtroom testimony are necessary to secure a conviction and send the drug violator to prison. Officers will receive tips for testifying along with terminology that should be included in drug arrest reports. Narcotic investigations are extremely dangerous in nature. Patrol officers often encounter armed drug traffickers who are willing to protect their drug stashes at all costs. Officer safety concerns while investigating drug offenses will be studied. The majority of Patrol Officer Drug courses across the country focus on highway interdiction. The primary focus of this 2 day course is teaching patrol officers proven techniques that will assist them in investigating narcotic offenses in their communities. After attending this course, patrol officers will have the resources and training to seize larger quantities of drugs, firearms, and U.S. currency.
New Supervisor April 25-27, 2018 Instructor: Lt. Garza 20 TCOLE Hours This course is designed for New Supervisors to learn the following information: Relevant Commission Rules and Legislative Changes, Role Identification, Values, Ethics and Principles, Communication, Leadership Styles, Counseling, Liability and Civil Rights Issues, Planning and Organizing, Civil Rights, Racial sensitivity and Cultural Diversity, Special Investigative Issues, and The Transistion. Register via E-Mail: Kirstie.saur@co.guadalupe.tx.us MAY 2018 Interview & Interrogation Techniques May 7-8, 2018 Law enforcement officials responsible for conducting criminal investigations, are involved in the objective search for the truth in every facet of an investigation, including interviews and interrogations. Investigators must provide prosecutors with several items that meet the legal and ethical requirements for admission in court. Interview and interrogation techniques are becoming highly scrutinized by the courts as well as members of the jury. Unfortunately, police agencies across the United States have neglected to provide up-to-date training on interview and interrogation tactics which have caused major problems for not only the departments, but for investigators as well. Investigators will also be presented with up-to-date case law regarding current issues surrounding interviews and interrogations. This two-day training course is designed to provide investigators with the skills necessary to obtain information through interviewing and interrogation in an ethical and legal framework. Investigators will learn the difference between interviews and interrogations, methods for establishing rapport, developing case-specific themes, proper room setup, the difference between an admission and a confession, and techniques to ensure the interview is conducted in a legal manner. Numerous case studies will be discussed as well as audio/video of past interrogations to help demonstrate the techniques presented.
Intermediate Spanish May 29-31, 2018 Instructor: Deputy Kohls 24 TCOLE Hours This course is composed of seven units and is designed to build upon the skills acquired during each unit. The jump-start unit is the main focus of this course. Within the jump-start unit are critical words and phrases that the student must completely master during this course. These phrases deal with safety and command and control during responses to a potentially dangerous incident. The student must be able to leave this course being able to repeat or interpret those phrases using only recall. The other modules deal with Spanish within the context of the situations the officers may find themselves in. These modules provide key phrases and words that may be used in a variety of situations. In addition, these modules attempt to refocus the student s learning back to the words and phrases identified in the jump-start unit. Register via E-mail: Kirstie.saur@co.guadalupe.tx.us JUNE 2018 Fentanyl: Drug Trends, Investigations & Officer Safety June 7-8, 2018 Fentanyl is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous and challenging drug-related threats to communities and law enforcement officials across the United States. Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate used as a surgical anesthetic or as a narcotic to treat chronic and severe pain. Its most commonly used in cancer patients; however, over the last couple of years its been blamed for the death of thousands of Americans. It s characterized by the CDC as an incapacitating agent, and provides a substantial risk to law enforcement. Fentanyl can be absorbed through skin, whether through accidental contact or inhalation of airborne powder. An amount the size of a few grains of salt can be enough to potentially kill a 250lb man. Many law enforcement officers are not aware of these risks and the results can be deadly. If this isn t scary enough, add Carfentanil to the list of cutting agents used with heroin. Carfentanil is upwards of 100x times stronger than regular fentanyl and fatal to humans. Today more than ever, law enforcement needs to prepare themselves to deal with this risk. Day one of this training course will focus on breaking down Fentanyl as well as the latest trends in packaging and distribution. An emphasis will be placed on how to protect yourself from accidental exposure and possible overdose. From the onset of an overdose, an officer can die in less than 3 minutes. During this class, officers will learn how to recognize the symptoms and respond to an officer overdose. Detailed information and techniques to put a policy and training in place at your home agency will be discussed. An emphasis will be placed on how to collect, process, and preserve Fentanyl evidence while minimizing an
exposure. The second day of the training course will focus on investigative techniques involving Fentanyl cases. Best practices for undercover operations and/or controlled buys will be discussed in detail. Proactive overdose investigations will also be covered. Intermediate Use of Force June 26-27, 2018 Instructor: Sgt. Nelms & Deputy Glover The student will be able to obtain a thorough understanding and knowledge of the statutory laws related to the use of force. The student will be able to demonstrate on a written objective type examination an understanding of this area to a specified percentage. The student will obtain a basic overview of the terminology and concepts regarding use of force. The student will also obtain information concerning research indicating factors and situations where use of force may be likely. The student will be able to demonstrate on a written objective type examination an understanding of this area to a specified percentage. This unit will acquaint the student with various force options or alternatives available to peace officers. The student will be able to demonstrate on a written objective type examination an understanding of this area to a specified percentage. The student will be able to identify the appropriate uses of deadly force as defined by court decisions. The student will be able to identify the typical post shooting reactions by officers and their departments including psychological and investigative responses. The student will be able to demonstrate on a written objective type examination an understanding of this area to a specified percentage. This section will expose students to a myriad of legal issues that revolve around the inappropriate use of force. Legal issues that will be covered include criminal liability, civil torts, civil rights, violations, damages, attorney fees, constitutional rights, vicarious liability, legal theories, and defense strategies. The student will be able to demonstrate on a written objective type examination an understanding of this area to a specified percentage. Register via E-Mail: Kirstie.saur@co.guadalupe.tx.us JULY 2018 Technology, Threats and Trends in Criminal Investigations July 23-24, 2018 Technology saturates our everyday lives. Yet, so many technologies are being developed with the specific purpose of targeting police officers or hiding criminal activity. This is a unique and eye-opening class for prosecutors, law enforcement personnel and anyone working in the
judicial system who wants to learn more on how everyday technologies are being used (or misused) to commit crimes, avoid or detect investigations, and to conduct counter surveillance. However, not only will this class examine and demonstrate how individuals are misusing these technologies, it will also reveal simple, inexpensive ways to mitigate there success as well as provide some investigative tips. Although dealing with technology issues, this course is instructed in a manner that both the novice and the expert will understand and appreciate. The course utilizes a combination of lecture, multimedia examples, case studies, and live demonstrations involving the attendees. Evaluations of this course have been excellent and many have stated that it should be mandatory training for every officer. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO REGISTER FOR EVERY COURSE YOU WANT TO TAKE SO THAT YOU GET THE FINAL APPROVAL TO ATTEND. THANKS!