NCJ Number
82218
Date Published
1981
Length
38 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the meetings and workshops at which an examination was evolved to test proficiency of trainees in police defensive tactics. The examination accompanies a standardized training manual in these techniques, which are to be used statewide.
Abstract
The initial brainstorming session discussed the types of events to be included in a statewide defensive tactics examination, the criteria for evaluating performance, the use of assessment teams, the degree of resistance to be employed in the test, and the possible use of a wrestling scenario as a criterion measure. Subsequent meetings reviewed the tactics and techniques previously agreed upon and settled details of test administration. The latter included questions of how many techniques a student should exhibit mastery in, retesting procedures, and selection of the assessment team. One workshop had a 'hands-on' portion where defense instructors performed the techniques called for in the draft examination. Two pilot tests of the draft examination were conducted at two State police academies with trainees who had received defensive tactics instruction. These sought to determine the degree of concordance among raters and the adequacy of the administrative process in the testing model, as well as student opinions of the procedure. The completed set of materials consists of a student manual with sequential photographs and narrative descriptions, a narrated videotape that depicts the techniques, and a manual that describes the procedures for administering the examination. The latter is appended to this report and discusses the project history, facilities for defensive tactics instruction, methods of instruction, and procedures for final testing. In its appendix are a pairing model of defensive tactics final examination, a model for testing flow, and the final practical examination format and assessor scoring sheet. Lists of planning workshop participants are included. Charts are also given.