Advanced and Specialized Law Enforcement Courses

Kinesic Interviews

Being able to determine deceptive responses through the observation of nonverbal clues and body reactions during an interview or interrogation can be a valuable tool for the perceptive investigator. During stressful interviews, individuals often “leak” autonomic behaviors that are difficult to control. This seminar presents instruction and demonstrations that teach students skills in reading behavioral signals of tempo, posture, breathing, gestures, & other body movements that cannot be consciously controlled. The class provides students with information that should enhance their perceptual skills, thus, increasing their ability to recognize changes in behavior that often forecasts shifts in attitude and imminent disclosures, as well as, to assess deception and resistance. This is not a boring lecture seminar where participants are forced to take copious notes with minimal involvement.  Rather, the program is conducted in a highly reactive setting, prompting dialog between the students and the instructor. Students are involved in numerous exercises in order to apply the techniques presented during instruction.  

Topics of instruction include:

Parking is located at the Palm Avenue Garage located on the corner of 9th Ave and Nuccio Parkway. Please park on the student side of the garage.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson (813) 253-7952 or sjohnson2@hccfl.edu

Search and Seizure

About the Instructor:

JP Nixon, senior consultant for the Odysseus Project, has been conducting law enforcement training throughout the US for over a decade.  A narcotics prosecutor by trade, Mr. Nixon is the former Director of a joint State/Federal task force, based out of Miami, Florida, that conducted complex international money laundering investigations.

Course Description:

Instead of the standard lecture on what you cannot do when acting under the color of law, this class zeros directly in on ways of fulfilling law enforcement objectives in the face of the law’s constraints.  Consisting of an interactive multi-media presentation designed to engage the students in thought and discussion with the instructor and each other while learning how to apply the Fourth Amendment to both basic and complex fact patterns.  An absolutely essential class for personnel at all levels, taught in a uniquely dynamic way.

Overview of Topics:

How to Effectively Articulate Reasonable Suspicion and Probable Cause

Searching Cars and Conveyances & Pretextual Detentions

How to Secure Consent

Knock & Talks and Consensual Encounters

The Home, Curtilage & the Open Fields Doctrine

Damaging or Destroying Property & Scope of the Search

Exigencies, Sweeps, and Holding the Scene

Managing Uncooperative Detainees

Weapons Searches vs. Contraband Searches

Use or Deployment of a K-9 in Various Contexts

Detention, Seizures, and Custody – a Tactical Approach

Hotels, Motels, and Other Criminal Forums of Convenience

How to Draft a Search Warrant in the State of Florida

Parking is located at the Palm Avenue Garage located on the corner of 9th Ave and Nuccio Parkway. Please park on the student side of the garage.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson (813) 253-7952 or sjohnson2@hccfl.edu

Instructor Development Seminar

Let’s face it: teaching cops can be a challenge. Cops can be a tough audience and when your teaching cops from your own agency it’s even more difficult. Did you know there are some simple things you can do that will automatically command their attention? It’s true. It’s also true that there are some things you should NEVER say and do when you are teaching because they are guaranteed to destroy rapport and sink the whole presentation!

At the Savage Training Group, we take teaching very seriously. Our instructors are constantly learning and perfecting their craft. Now we would like to share some of our best practices with you and help make you a better teacher.

This presentation is perfect for any law enforcement officer who is an instructor regardless of the topic. Whether you teach in a classroom or just give small lectures to your students before range day, this seminar is for you.

Curriculum Includes:

-           How to open your class and what to NEVER say!

-           How to command the attention of your students

-           How to avoid “Death by Power Point” when you have to use Power Point

-           Classroom management techniques

-           How to use group work and exercises that actually work

-           Challenging students and personalities

-           Making information stick

Parking is located at the Palm Avenue Garage located on the corner of 9th Ave and Nuccio Parkway. Please park on the student side of the garage.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

Instructor Scott Savage is the Founder of the Savage Training Group. He recently retired from the Santa Clara Police Department in California after 24 years of law enforcement service. He has won several awards for teaching including being selected by the International Law Enforcement Training Network as their 2021 Instructor of the Year. 

Instructor Dom Gamboa is a Senior Instructor with the Savage Training Group. He retired from the San Francisco Police Department and now serves as a Sergeant with the Broadmoor Police Department in California.  Dom sits on several boards with California POST and conducts quality assessment evaluations of training throughout the state. 

Crisis/Hostage Negotiations Level I

The Crisis/Hostage Negotiation Course (Level I/Basic) is an introductory course for newly assigned negotiators or negotiators having a five-years or more lapse in negotiation training. This course is the first in a series of three progressive courses. This course meets or exceeds most state and federal training requirements for crisis/hostage negotiator certification and is trained in accordance with guidelines established by the National Council of Negotiation Associations. This course is designed to prepare law enforcement and corrections personnel to mitigate threats involving barricaded subjects, suicidal subjects, hostage takers, and others presenting behaviors associated with subject precipitated homicide or suicide-by-cop with special emphasis on the drug-affected subject and those suffering from mental illness or experiencing an emotional or psychological crisis. This course explains the basic premise of crisis negotiation, types of crisis incidents, and terminology as it relates to crisis negotiation. Students will learn the fundamental requirements of a unified law enforcement response to a crisis incident, including pre-incident planning, the roles of dispatchers and first responders, containment, security, and risk management. Effective communication as a core competency will address the Behavioral Influence Stairway Model, Active Listening Skills (ALS), and the role of rapport and influence as it relates to crisis negotiation. Students will also participate as a team in well-developed practical exercises that reinforce concepts presented during lecture.  This course is available for Mandatory Retraining only.

Topics of instruction include:

This course is not authorized for salary incentive

Parking is located at the Palm Avenue Garage located on the corner of 9th Ave and Nuccio Parkway. Please park on the student side of the garage.  There is no free street parking.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

FL General Instructor Techniques # 1186

In this course, students will have an opportunity to define, explore, and develop each of the skills required of an instructor. Students will learn about the types of liability associated with instruction, their responsibility to act ethically and without bias, and how to control and document classroom activities. Students will be instructed in the use of adult learning models and facilitation skills to conduct application-based activities such as individual and group exercises, problem solving scenarios, practice demonstrations, and peer evaluations.  Students will study how to design instruction, write objectives, test questions, and prepare lesson plans.  In addition, students will be required to prepare and present a 30-minute presentation to the class.

Pursuant to Rule 11B-35, F.A.C., this course is a pre-requisite for applying to CJSTC to become an instructor for CJSTC certified Training Centers.

Topics of instruction include:

**Students are encouraged to bring their laptops with PowerPoint for use in developing their presentations.

Parking is located at the Palm Avenue Garage located on the corner of 9th Ave and Nuccio Parkway. Please park on the student side of the garage.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

Wright Shooting Beyond Patrol Rifle

Beyond Patrol Rifle - LE | Corrections

The Beyond Patrol Rifle class will bring your shooting to the next level by building your confidence, speed, and efficiency. Be prepared to have an exceptional understanding of your own rifle skills through time standards and reps. This (2) day class will go well beyond the basics of a standard patrol rifle class as we take the time to build each student up around the fundamentals of shooting and prepare them for real world encounters.

Topics Covered:

●          Fundamentals of shooting a carbine

●          Ready Positions + Time Standards

●          Driving the carbine

●          Positional Shooting + Time Standards

●          Malfunctions

●          Reloads - tactical vs. emergency

●          Weapon transitions

●          Target transitions

●          Turns and pivots

●          Use of cover

●          Shooting on the Move          

Materials Needed:

1000 rounds of carbine (no green tip) & 150 rounds of pistol ammo.  AR or AK style carbine w/ sling.  Mag carriers for carbine either on the belt or chest rig.  Pistol w/ holster.  At least (3) mags of carbine and (3) mags of pistol.  Snacks.  Water.  Sunscreen.  Hat.  Weather Gear.

This is a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission Trust-Funded Course for Region IX. Officers in Region IX attend free of charge.

In order to attend, all officers are required to process the appropriate paperwork through their respective agencies.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

Taser Instructor/Recertification

This course provides the basic operational theory and practical training to instruct users to reasonably, safely and effectively operate TASER CEWs. This course covers the TASER X26P,X2 and the NEW TASER 7CEWs, and will re-certify those who successfully complete the course as TASER instructors for a period of 2 years. This course is open to sworn law enforcement officers. Part 1 of the course is completed online.

All instructors will spend approximately 8 hours online before participating in 8 hours of practical training to include teach backs and RBT scenarios.

* Agencies need to send their attendees names along with email addresses so they can be notified when the online portion is available.

Once your attendees are confirmed in the class, they will be provided the link to the online portion of the course by the Taser Master Instructor.

Instructor certification is valid for two years.   Walk-ins will NOT be accepted.

This is a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission Trust-Funded Course for Region IX.  Officers in Region IX attend free of charge. In order to attend, all officers are required to process the appropriate   paperwork through their respective agencies.

Parking is located at the Palm Avenue Garage located on the corner of 9th Ave and Nuccio Parkway. Please park on the student side of the garage.

For more information, please contact: Sandra Franklin sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

Adult Sex Crimes Investigations # 1170

This is a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission Advanced Training Course. This 40-hour course is approved for mandatory retraining or salary incentive.

This course is designed to provide an overview of sex crimes investigations for the officer and investigator with limited experience in this area, and an understanding of the problematic, legal, investigative, and evidentiary aspects of sex crimes.

Students in this course will gain insight into the crimes, their impact on victims, the evidentiary aspects of adult sex crimes, legal rights of victims and the legal responsibility of law enforcement when investigating these crimes.

Topics of Instruction include:

This is a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission Trust-Funded Course for Region IX. Officers in Region IX attend free of charge.

In order to attend, all officers are required to process the appropriate paperwork through their respective agencies.

Parking is located in the Fernando Noriega, Jr.  Palm Avenue STUDENT PARKING GARAGE located on the north side of 9th Avenue, between Nuccio Parkway and 13th Street. You will be given a parking pass the first day of class.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

Courtroom Testimony: Investigating, Documenting, and Testifying for a Guilty Verdict

This 16- hour course is designed for every level of law enforcement, from cadets through experienced detectives and investigators. This course will detail the necessary components for a “guilty verdict”: a beyond a reasonable doubt investigation, accurate documentation, and confident courtroom presentation. Officers will understand the importance of every stage of a criminal proceeding and learn ways to more confidently testify in front of a jury and combat tactics defense attorneys typically use to try and create a reasonable doubt. This is a Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission Specialized Training Course, and is approved for mandatory retraining only, not for salary incentive.

Parking is located at the Palm Avenue Garage located on the corner of 9th Ave and Nuccio Parkway. Please park on the student side of the garage.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

Aerosol Irritant Instructor Certification

This 1-day (8-hour) Instructor Certification program was developed for agencies to update, train, and

certify departmental Instructors in Aerosol Irritant Projectors for SABRE Aerosols. This course was

designed to enhance the instructor’s development in formulations, spray patterns, physical and mental effects of chemical agents, understand the importance of preexisting medical conditions, training and liability, deployment guidelines, and the proper use of SABRE Aerosol Irritant Projectors. We will concentrate on the technical and tactical applications of this information and instructor developmental skills. This training will assist instructors with enhancing their own systems which will help improve the officer’s skills and enhance their proficiency.

Topics covered in the program include:

- Importance of Laying the Verbal Foundation                           - Aerosol Deployment Methods

- Proper Voluntary Contamination Drills                                      - Proper Inert Training Drills

- Transitions                                                                                      -Instructor Goals & Objectives

- Decontamination & Documentation                                           -SABRE overview

- End User Course Suggestions                                                    -Technical Product Information

This is a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission Trust-Funded Course for Region IX. Officers in Region IX attend free of charge.

 In order to attend, all officers are required to process the appropriate paperwork through their respective agencies.

Parking is located in the Fernando Noriega, Jr.  Palm Avenue STUDENT PARKING GARAGE located on the north side of 9th Avenue, between Nuccio Parkway and 13th Street. You will be given a parking pass the first day of class.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

De-Escalation and Bias Law Enforcement / First Amendment Auditors

The De-Escalation and Bias Law Enforcement course is a 16-hour course which not only dives deeply into these two main topics, but also provides other important and valuable resources. 

Among them are:

• Updated information on Congressional efforts to legislate Enforcement reform.
• Code of Ethics review
• Discussion of the Constitution as it relates to police powers.

Participants will spend the day immersed in learning and refreshing on De-Escalation and Bias.  Teaching techniques include current videos and role-play opportunities.

This De-Escalation course not only covers some very useful police-focused techniques, but also discusses concepts such as pre-de-escalation and pre-escalation.  Topics cover the Guardian Mindset and ‘process vs. philosophy’ nature of De-Escalation.

First Amendment is an 8-hour course designed to enlighten and inform officers and the chain of command on best practices when dealing with people with cameras in a variety of situations, especially with 1^st Amendment Auditors.

This course discusses the motivation and even how much money people make from social media platforms when they post their videos.  This is highly preventable!

This is a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission Trust-Funded Course for Region IX. Officers in Region IX attend free of charge. 

 In order to attend, all officers are required to process the appropriate paperwork through their respective agencies.

Parking is located in the Fernando Noriega, Jr. Palm Avenue STUDENT PARKING GARAGE located on the north side of 9th Avenue, between Nuccio Parkway and 13th Street. You will be given a parking pass the first day of class.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

Crisis/Hostage Negotiations Level II

Pre-Requisites: Students must have completed Basic Hostage Negotiations to register for this course.

The course begins with a contemporary look at subject precipitated homicide and suicide-by-cop as one of the most dangerous risks facing law enforcement. The presentation will focus on identifying pre-force indicators of some of these events, typologies of suicide-by-cop incidents, tactical and response considerations, as well as specific negotiation strategies. Students will learn the elements of a deliberate crisis negotiation strategy based on an established structure placing emphasis on frequent risk assessments. Situations that create unique challenges for law enforcement, such as jumpers from bridges, cell towers and overpasses, will be among the advanced concepts discussed. Practical and risk-effective techniques will be presented along with several relevant examples. Students will participate in discussion regarding the evaluation and use of third party intermediaries as well as the effective use of interpreters during crisis negotiation. Students will learn effective questioning techniques and appropriate responses based on the “clusters of five.” Students will learn how to say “no,” how to show empathy and how to develop and apply a communication strategy during a negotiation. Students will learn how to interpret the behavior of hostages while in captivity and techniques to use when dealing with them directly. Students will also learn how to conduct effective post release/escape debriefings. The collaborative effort between the crisis negotiation team and the tactical team is essential to mission success. Safety and security issues, operating in a tactical environment and developing a unified strategy are among the topics discussed. Challenging, team-oriented, scenario-driven practical exercises are an integral part of the course and will allow students the opportunity to practice and refine both individual and teambuilding skills.

NOTE: This course is trained in accordance with guidelines established by the National Council of Negotiation Associations.

Topics of instruction include:

This course is not authorized for salary incentive

Parking is located at the Palm Avenue Garage located on the corner of 9th Ave and Nuccio Parkway. Please park on the student side of the garage.  There is no free street parking.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

Counter Ambush Tactics

Law Enforcement ambushes have become an all-to-frequent event, accounting for upwards of 20% of officer fatalities. Tactics for countering these attacks are now critical to officer survival. This physically challenging, 40-hour course immerses students in    methods for addressing and preventing a variety of ambush situations. Through a   series of intensive practical drills and multi-media presentations, students will master techniques for countering ambushes. As this is an instructor-level course, students will also be prepared for developing and presenting counter-ambush training.

Topics covered include:

History and overview of L.E. ambushes, Ambush types and tactics

detecting and preventing ambushes, vehicle-based counter-ambush tactics

dismounted counter-ambush tactics, single and multiple officer responses

vehicle ballistics demo, dry drills, force-on-force and live-fire exercises

course development and methods for training others in counter-ambush skills

Course Equipment Requirements:

Holster and belt (duty, tactical or concealed may be used) 

Duty gear (including handgun & 3 magazines)

Motor vehicle

600 rounds of handgun ammunition with RECEIPT

Eye & ear protection for the range

Body armor

Clothing suitable for force-on-force    training

Protective gear for Simunition/UTM exercises

Note:   This is a physically challenging Instructor level course.  Students should be prepared for a variety of ambush situations.

This is a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission Trust-Funded Course for Region IX. Officers in Region IX attend free of charge. 

In order to attend, all officers are required to process the appropriate paperwork through their respective agencies.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

Crisis/Hostage Negotiations Level III

Pre-Requisites: Students must have completed Basic and Intermediate Hostage Negotiations to register for this course.

The third in a series of three progressive courses, Crisis Hostage Negotiation – Level III (Advanced) prepares you for the most complex and challenging aspects of crisis negotiation – leading crisis negotiation teams and managing crisis incidents. We will take you from policy development, to recruiting, selecting, and training crisis negotiator teams, to media management, managing legal risk, and conducting operational and psychological debriefings.

We will start out with an in-depth look at policy development for crisis negotiation teams and addressing a number of issues including responsibilities, procedures, training, and critical liabilities related to policy.  Selecting the right personnel to serve on a negotiation team may be the most important decision a team makes; we will discuss the core competencies of effective crisis negotiators and methods for their selection.

Negotiating a crisis incident involving a fellow officer is among the most complex threats facing a law enforcement agency – you will learn about police socialization and the evolution of a crisis including pre-incident indicators and high risk factors.  We will select a contemporary issue for presentation, highlighting the most current trends, technology and techniques.

In a continued discussion of abnormal psychology, you will learn how to recognize Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and techniques for negotiating with a PTSD-effected subject, specifically as it relates to combat veterans in crisis.

In keeping with the advanced nature of this course, students will plan, facilitate, and evaluate a culminating scenario-driven practical exercise. Student performance will be carefully evaluated and in-depth feedback will be provided during a comprehensive after-action debriefing.

Students will also participate as a member of a small group responsible for developing and presenting projects in one of five topic areas:  Case study preparation, team selection, training facilitation, scenario writing or policy development. This course is available for Mandatory Retraining only.

NOTE: This course is trained in accordance with guidelines established by the National Council of Negotiation Associations.

This course is not authorized for salary incentive

Parking is located at the Palm Avenue Garage located on the corner of 9th Ave and Nuccio Parkway. Please park on the student side of the garage.  There is no free street parking

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

Force Science 

Advanced Instructional Methods

How individual officers respond during such incidents is heavily underpinned by how the officers were trained. This places an immense responsibility on law enforcement trainers and use of force instructors.

Bad training exists and should be categorized as education built without the foundational research and science in neurology, cognition, and motor learning principles. Training is both art and science.

The Methods of Instruction – Training Practical Professional Policing Skills course fills a critical void in modern-day law enforcement training. During this intensive course, participants will be challenged by diving into paradigm-breaking scientific principles that can be immediately and directly applied to their academy or agency training program.

This learner-centric course utilizes an adult learning, problem-based approach. Individuals can expect to do a minimum of 20 hours of pre-class reading/viewing and assignments in addition to 24-hours of in-class instruction. Successful completion of this course requires the student to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the material and its application in a variety of contexts.

At the end of this course, participants will have a broad understanding of identifying critical training needs and building and instructing an evidence-based training program to address the essential skills required by law enforcement. In addition, instruction will include developing realistic, verifiable, and justifiable course training standards (CTS) to guide future teaching while protecting the agency and trainers.

The course is immensely challenging. It requires a willingness of the participant to leave behind strongly held biases and traditionalism and embrace a growth mindset.

Parking is located at the Palm Avenue Garage located on the corner of 9th Ave and Nuccio Parkway. Please park on the student side of the garage.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.

Shifting to a Leadership Mindset

This customized No-Nonsense Leadership 40-hour training class is designed to help those that are new in their position of leadership to hit the ground running, while developing and honing the skills they need in their leadership roles. The class will also impart high-level leadership insight and strategies for the more seasoned leadership attendees. This information will give them the ability to make better decisions, and proactively handle conflict.

DAY 1:  For the opening day of the training, we will discuss No-Nonsense strategies, basics and wisdom truths of leadership that set the course for leaders to be effective.

DAY 2: During this portion of the training, we will discuss how effective leaders make decisions, delegate authority effectively, and communicate to get things done. We will discuss the power of an effective team and how to lead your team through conflict.

DAY 3: During this segment, we will discuss how to effectively lead through and manage the inevitable changes that will take place in the workplace. We will discuss the power of habits and examine habits that can either make a leader or break a leader.

DAY 4: For day four we will tackle the issue of workplace politics. We will understand how uncommon, no-nonsense leaders lead in highly political work environments without losing their integrity. We will begin our assessment debrief by reviewing our behavioral assessments to see “HOW” we do what we do as a leader.

DAY 5: Day five is a complete assessment review. We will review Tri-Metrix assessments to understand each participant’s behavioral style, what motivates them to action, and their level of Emotional intelligence.

**WORKSHOP PREREQUISITE: Attendee must complete a two-part on-line assessment PRIOR to the class. We will debrief the assessment during class. This assessment is a mandatory part of attending the class for development.

AT THE END OF THIS TRAINING SESSION PARTICIPANTS WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO:

• Communicate effectively and professionally resolve conflict.

• Engage and interact more effectively when encountering difficult people behavior and situations.

• Respond professionally vs overreacting unprofessionally when conflict arises.

• Consistently communicate through conflict situations to get desired results for the organization and their teams.

Parking is located at the Palm Avenue Garage located on the corner of 9th Ave and Nuccio Parkway. Please park on the student side of the garage.

For more information, please contact: Scott Johnson sjohnson2@hccfl.edu  or (813) 253-7952.