Firestone Police Complete Advanced Training 

The Firestone Police Department has recently completed the last training cohort for all sworn members of the department in Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT).  ICAT was developed by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), an independent research organization that focuses on critical issues in policing.  All members of the Firestone Police Department at every rank attended this training, including the Chief.

In January, members of the Firestone Police Department traveled to San Diego to attend PERF’s annual ICAT conference and a train-the-trainer course to become certified instructors.  Since then, the department has conducted multiple trainings for all sworn officers. 

ICAT is more than de-escalation training – it is a training program that provides first-responding police officers with the tools, skills, and options they need to successfully and safely defuse a range of critical incidents.  Promising scientific evidence has emerged, demonstrating that ICAT implementation was associated with statistically significant declines in use-of-force incidents, citizen injuries, and officer injuries.

The program consists of two days of training that includes lectures, case studies, and scenario-based exercises where actors were used to allow each officer to demonstrate what they learned to defuse various situations.

Training is a key component of the Firestone Police Department’s Strategic Plan.  The leadership within the department recognizes the importance of continuing education, and with training like this, the Firestone Police Department continues to show its commitment to providing the highest level of safety services to the Town of Firestone.