Tactical Patrol Officer Certification

The rationale behind creating this 24-hour course was based upon the need to train patrol officers in a core group of tactical skills that will better prepare and provide them an enhanced ability to deal with elevated and unexpected threats, critical incidents, and ambush attacks; as well as providing increased survival skills and confidence. The patrol officer’s role in dealing with these threats has steadily increased over the last several years. Patrol officers need advanced training that helps to bridge the gap between them and SWAT. Upon completion, officers will receive a completion certificate and may wear the Tactical Patrol Officer (TPO) pin on the uniform if approved by their administration.

Goal: The objective of this course is to provide frontline patrol officers with basic tactics normally available to specialty team personnel such as SWAT or SRT. Officers will receive training on search & entry tactics, introduction to single officer rapid deployment, combat cover/concealment, introduction to breaching, basic tactical combat casualty care, counter ambush tactics, vehicle assaults, tactical handgun, and tactical rifle operations. The course will consist of movement drills, force on force training, and live-fire tactical movement.

Course objectives: 

The student will have an understanding of awareness and mental preparedness.

The student will have an understanding of the psychological & physiological effects of a violent encounter.

The student will have an understanding of search & entry tactics including both deliberate and dynamic movements, as well as single office response tactics.

The student will have an understanding of cover/concealment.

The student will have an understanding of breaching; both mechanical & ballistic.

The student will have an understanding of basic tactical combat casualty care.

The student will have an understanding of officer rescue/recovery in a hot zone.

The student will have an understanding of basic counter ambush tactics.

The student will have an understanding of tactical vehicle assaults.

The student will have an understanding of both tactical handgun and rifle operations.

Student equipment:

Student materials: Training uniform/BDU, gun belt, vest, duty firearm w/3 magazines, eye and ear protection, gloves, 300 rounds handgun ammo, rifle w/2 magazines, 300 rounds rifle ammo, 25 rounds 12-gauge frangible ammunition, 12-gauge shotgun if available (one will be available for use).

Host requirements: Room with video/audio capabilities for PowerPoint, videos, instruction. Area for building clearing with rooms and hallways for entry or shoot-house. Range with target stands, backers, and targets where movement drills are possible. Access to a saw and screw gun for assembly of ballistic breaching stands. 8’ 2x4 per student for ballistic breaching, 1 box of 2” screws.

Not required, but if the host has access to breaching tools (Ram, Halligan) and/or breaching door, we will use those for breaching. Also, if the host is able to find doors mounted on frames with hardware (usually home improvement stores will donate mounted, damaged doors to law enforcement), we could use those for breaching.

Cancellation Policy

The course cancellation policy requires a minimum of a 15-day prior notice from the course start date when a student will not be attending the course. The notification to not attend will be made by email through our website, and if they identify no replacement student, cancellations with less than 15-days' notice will cause a department credit that can be used towards another future training event within one year from the original course date. We will charge no-shows without email notification the full course fee, even if the payment has not already been made. We offer a one-year future course credit as well for any no-show that is charged a full course fee. This policy is in effect as of June 23, 2021, and you as a representative of your agency agree to abide by this policy by registering for any course. Please contact us by email or phone if you have questions about this cancellation policy. This policy is in place because of students that register for courses and take training slots without attending training, which removes the opportunity for another officer to attend. We pay the instructors teaching these programs based on the number of officers scheduled to attend the event, and we base our travel cost including instructor pay on registration fees. This policy is considered a binding contract between BSTS LLC and the student or student agency or company.