Course Objectives and Agenda (CLICK HERE)

Please be aware that this class is a 35-hour training. Therefore, the first four (4) days of training will be 8am-5pm local time. The last day will be 8am-Noon local time.

Introduction – This module will introduce the course and emphasize the importance of unbiased, professional, and independent investigations of officer-involved shootings and use-of-force-related incidents. Policy considerations and statistics on the prevalence of such incidents will be presented. This portion of the program will be delivered through PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Crisis Leadership – Proper leadership, command, and control at the scene of a crisis are crucial to a successful outcome. With many simultaneous moving parts, chaos can prevail without strong leadership. This module will cover how to gain control of a crisis scene, including task prioritization and leading others. 

Investigative Methodology: The “Crime” Scene – Forensic evidence can help prove or disprove statements and, when statements are lacking, help determine what occurred. This module will discuss the process of securing a scene, searching for and identifying evidence, collecting and packaging evidence, documenting and photographing evidence, and crime laboratory analysis. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Crime Scene Reconstruction: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis – Crime scene reconstruction helps “fill in the blanks” of an investigation when not all activities are known. This module provides an awareness-level understanding of crime scene reconstruction and bloodstain pattern analysis, and how they can be useful in a use-of-force investigation. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Shooting Reconstruction / Trajectory Analysis – This module provides an awareness-level overview of the techniques and the information that can be derived from ballistic evidence at a crime scene, including locations, trajectories, directionalities, and shot timing. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Legal Considerations – To conduct an investigation, whether criminal, civil, or administrative/internal affairs, one must understand the relevant legal concepts to ensure that adequate, admissible information is available to those who decide whether the officer’s actions were appropriate. The discussion will emphasize Graham v. Connor, Tennessee v. Garner, and Garrity v. New Jersey (among others). This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Internal vs. Criminal – The functions, purposes, and procedures for internal, administrative investigations differ from those of criminal investigations. The differences and information flow between the IA and criminal investigations will be detailed to help avoid common legal pitfalls. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Post-Mortem Examination / Autopsy / Injury Analysis – A firm understanding of terminology and biological processes surrounding death can help investigators communicate with medical examiners/coroners and collaborate to accurately determine the cause, manner, and mechanism of death. This module will introduce students to basic biological science and medicolegal death investigation concepts. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Investigative Methodology: Follow-up Investigation – In this module, the duties of investigators will be detailed from the initial scene response through the conclusion of the investigation. Documentation, checklists, report templates, and investigative considerations and activities will be presented. This portion of the program will be delivered through PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Officer Interviews – Interviewing law enforcement officers presents unique challenges, particularly in use-of-force cases. This module presents strategies and techniques to elicit the most accurate information from involved and witness officers. It covers how to facilitate better memory recall, choose an appropriate interview location, interact with attorneys, and use sample questionnaires. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Witness Interviews and Neighborhood Canvass – In this module, students will learn the importance of conducting competent witness interviews and the strategies, forms, and techniques for eliciting information from civilian witnesses, including family members of the involved individual. The module emphasizes the search for video evidence during the canvass. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Technology in Investigations – This module examines how technological advancements can support the investigation of use-of-force incidents and help visualize the results of those investigations. Topics include artificial intelligence (AI), 3D scanners, drones, PowerPoint, and other recent technologies. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Video Recordings – Video recordings generally do not accurately reflect the perspective of the participants in a use-of-force incident and, in some cases, may be completely erroneous due to the problems and limitations of video evidence. This module will explain how video recorders work and some of the anomalies that can occur, all to help educate on the weight that should be afforded to video evidence. Forensic audio/video analysis is discussed, along with enhancements that can be made to video. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Social Media – Social media platforms can be a valuable investigative resource for locating or corroborating evidence, identifying individuals and associates, obtaining public and private communications, and geolocating devices. This module will provide an overview of the information available from social media and specific methodologies for obtaining it. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

“Excited Delirium” – Controversy within the medical community exists over whether Excited Delirium exists and whether it should be referenced in autopsy findings. Regardless, investigators must understand the underlying symptoms and the challenges officers face when apprehending someone exhibiting signs of a medical emergency. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Shooting at Moving Vehicles / Airbag Control Modules – When officers shoot at occupants of a moving vehicle, vital evidence may be stored in the vehicle’s airbag control module/event data recorder or in the vehicle’s infotainment system. This module will cover the types of information stored in these devices and how to retrieve it. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Search Warrants – The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Obtaining a search warrant or a valid exception to the warrant requirement is essential to ensure that evidence is admissible at any criminal proceeding. In this module, unique search and seizure circumstances following use-of-force incidents will be discussed, along with how investigators navigate complex legal questions surrounding the seizure of evidence. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Reaction Time & Memory Limitations in Traumatic Situations – The human brain and body have biological limitations on performance and memory, both of which can affect use-of-force investigations. In this module, scientific research on action/reaction and human biology will be presented in the context of officer-involved critical incidents. This portion of the program will be delivered through PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

In-Custody Deaths & Electronic Control Weapons – In shooting incidents, the cause and manner of death are usually clear. However, detainees may die in police custody for a variety of other reasons. Collecting relevant information and evidence to determine the appropriate cause and manner of death is critical. Additionally, after the deployment of an electronic control device (e.g., Taser), further investigative actions are required. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Aftermath of a Critical Incident – Officer-Involved Critical Incidents are stressful for not only the participants and their families but also other members of the agency and the investigators. This module will provide information to help navigate the aftermath and ensure the mental well-being of all those affected by the incident is appropriately addressed. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.

Documentation and Presenting your Findings – Without proper documentation and testimony, even the best investigation can fail to reach a just outcome. Investigators must document their findings thoroughly and be able to articulate them professionally to any audience. Students will be guided through a case study and shown the organization and documentation that were compiled. They will also be provided with example reports and report templates to facilitate thorough, consistent documentation of use-of-force incidents. This portion of the program will be presented using PowerPoint, lecture, video, and case study examples.