Don’t Wait to Debrief – Turn Storytime into Training
Every day, officers across America go on routine and non-routine calls for service. Following most calls, we tell amazing war stories, and terrible jokes, and re-live the moment with fellow officers. Unfortunately, all too often we miss the opportunity to train and improve because the call for service doesn’t require a formal debriefing. The next time […]
4 Key Lessons Learned from Uvalde
Learning from our past is a cornerstone of professional improvement. In an effort to improve police responses, When Then Project wants to provide an overview of several key lessons learned and findings of the Texas House of Representatives Interim Report 2022 following the Robb Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Incident: Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, […]
Rapid Press Conference Tips
Giving a press conference after an Active Shooter incident requires careful communication, empathy, and strong leadership. Here are some rapid tips to help a Police Chief/PIO deliver an effective press conference under these difficult circumstances: 1. Preparation is Key: Gather accurate information: Ensure you have the most up-to-date and accurate information about the incident, casualties, […]
Core Tenets for Police Crisis Response
Crises demand a swift and well-coordinated response to ensure public safety, maintain order, and protect the well-being of both officers and the community. While every agency has specific policies and procedures for crisis responses, for many those documents can be hard to digest in critical moments. This brief provides a concise overview of some core […]
Police Guided Discovery: A Simple Method to Improve Officer Learning
As we strive to optimize officer performance through training, we want to introduce a powerful training approach that fosters growth and self-awareness: the Guided Discovery process. Guided discovery is a teaching and learning approach that encourages learners to explore and discover concepts on their own, under the guidance of a trainer. Instead of giving officers […]
Beyond the Average: Enhancing Officer Readiness for Critical Incidents
Every agency has them… the officers that everyone wants to go through the door with. The ones that think, train, and breathe tactical proficiency. These officers instill a sense of confidence during critical situations. In addition to physical skills, they often possess the ability to think strategically in high-pressure situations. Through continuous training, they continue […]
Leadership – Improve Situational Awareness During Crisis
During World War I, German pilot Oswald Boelke realized “the importance of gaining an awareness of the enemy before the enemy gained a similar awareness, and devised methods for accomplishing this.1” During the war, Boelke authored the first German manual on aerial tactics and recorded 40 aerial victories. Much of his success has been attributed […]
Before you set up Incident Command
Establishing a short-term incident command location for a major event is a critical task that police administrators should approach with careful consideration. It allows for the rapid deployment of resources and facilitates the exchange of critical information among responding agencies. It also provides a central location for managing logistics, such as equipment and supplies, which […]
Post Active Shooter: What is Your Responsibility to the Community?
After a mass shooting, the community affected can be left traumatized, scared, and struggling to come to terms with the tragedy that has occurred. As members of the community, police officers can play an important role in helping to facilitate healing and supporting those affected by the incident. By taking proactive steps to connect with […]
4 Lessons Learned from the Pulse Nightclub Shooting – Training and Mental Preparation
Incident: Pulse Nightclub, Orlando, FL Date: June 12, 2016 Casualties: 49 killed / 53 wounded Learning from our past is a cornerstone of professional improvement. In an effort to improve police responses, When Then Project wants to provide an overview of several key lessons learned and findings related to training and mental preparation from Rescue, […]