DRAFT REPORT OF THE CITY OF SPOKANE USE ... - Samuel Walker

Mr. Earl F. Martin
RE: REPORT TO USE OF FORCE COMMISSION
December 3, 2012
Page 5
During our discussions with regard to this schedule, I inquired as to the nature of the
defensive tactics and use of force training that was included in the current 4-hour block in the
recruits' schedule for the Pre-FTO training. The materials covered in the 4-hour block include skills
and techniques which are not taught at BLEA in the Burien Academy. Of critical importance in any
agency training of probationary officers trained at an external academy is the review and training in
the agency's policies - in particular the use of force policies. Thus, a portion of the 4-hour block of
training for the probationary officers was dedicated to the review of the SPD use of force policy.
With regard to the techniques and skills which the instructors included in this Pre-FTO training
block the following were reviewed or taught to the probationary officers in the Pre-FTO program:
handcuffing techniques; prone restraint positioning issues and prone handcuffing; the modified neck
restraint system taught by SPD; weapon retention; mastoid and hair take-downs; and leg restraining
techniques.
During a subsequent meeting with SPD defensive tactics instructors, Officer Rob Boothe
demonstrated the techniques taught by SPD to probationary officers and those techniques taught
during in-service use of force training for the SPD. All of the techniques were reviewed, explained
or demonstrated. Given the limited 4-hour block of time for defensive tactics for the probationary
officers in the Pre-FTO training program, I inquired as to the manner in which the schedule was
developed. Ultimately, I determined that the schedule for the probationary officers in the current
group was established without input from the subject matter experts and did not appear optimal. The
instructors across the board expressed the same concerns with regard to the lack of time to cover
take-downs and various physical skills including, for example, unarmed striking and blocking
techniques, neck restraints and weapon retention and disarming. A further time concern comes with
a need for physical skill repetitions, time to actually test comprehension of the probationary officer's
ability to execute such physical skills and the opportunity to do remedial training as needed.
With regard to the baton training issue, the SPD defensive tactics instructors indicated that
there is no one currently certified as an instructor or instructor-trainer in SPD for the side-handle
baton or PR-24, and thus the most recent group of probationary officers did not receive PR-24 baton
or any other type of side-handle baton training. Since BLEA baton training consisted of only the
straight baton, the probationary officers are limited in their choice of batons to the straight baton for
which they were certified. The issue of maintaining certification of SPD instructors and providing
them with up to date training and instructor-trainer or Master level instructor certifications in various
subject areas is of serious concern for the agency's professional development and risk management.
Substantive discussion was also had with regard to Pre-FTO firearms training and the issue
of rifle and shotgun training. The Pre-FTO Training program as set forth in Exhibit "B" provided in
June, 2012 for the then current probationary officers included a 4-hour block of firearms instruction.
That block of instruction consisted of approximately 2-hours of skills testing and qualifications and