Revised 11/2021

ADJ 160 - Police Response to Critical Incidents (3 CR.)

Course Description

Provides a basic introduction to incident command and emerging trends. Addresses bomb threats; hostage/barricade situations; attacks on institutions such as schools and hospitals; criminal hazmat; terrorist, militia/paramilitary, and extended crime scene evidence collection scenarios; and other long term or large- scale events. Lecture 3 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a greater understand of law enforcement’s preparation for and response to critical incidents. Students intending to seek employment in the military, law enforcement, security components of large corporations, or federal investigative agencies will have employment potential enhanced with knowledge of this course content. Likewise, students already employed in such agencies and businesses will benefit from increased job advancement possibilities. Discussions, based on actual incidents, will illustrate the various ways law enforcement has responded to and handled incidents of this nature in the past.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

None.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  • Explain various reasons for preplanning for critical incidents.
  • Identify possible critical situations that could result in significant use of law enforcement personnel to resolve the situation.
  • Describe how an agency can conduct a vulnerability assessment.
  • Describe the personal, professional, and academic preparation necessary for personnel designated to respond to crisis situations.

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Identify and describe at least ten different ways local, state, federal, and private agencies. working
  • together to prevent, respond to, and resolve high visibility incidents.
  • Describe the dynamics of hostage taking and negotiation.
  • Identify three ways the media can assist in ending a crisis situation.
  • Review historical successes and failures in high visibility crisis situations.
  • Assess the private sector’s changing role in response to critical incidents.
  • Review active shooter training.
  • Discuss homeland security related issues.
  • Examine mitigation of and response to resolving high visibility crisis situations.

Optional Topics

Related subjects at the discretion of the instructor.