The Georgia Police Academy will be conducting the Clandestine Laboratory Safety and Awareness course December 1-2, 2015.

This two-day class teaches Clandestine Laboratory Safety and Awareness to all branches of public safety: from the Emergency Medical responder going into private homes on medical calls, to the Fire Fighter tasked with suppressing a residential or commercial structure fire, to the Patrol Officer performing traffic stops or answering calls for service. All First Responders can benefit from this training that will introduce them to a variety of threats that are not thoroughly covered in most standardized training courses.

This course will familiarize students with various types of clandestine laboratory operations used to manufacture methamphetamine and other illegal drugs. They will be taught to identify the chemicals used in these operations and their dangers. The students will learn how to initiate clandestine laboratory investigations and about the dangers to law enforcement officers processing clandestine labs, collecting evidence, and going through the decontamination steps.

Register now, seats are limited!

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The Georgia Public Safety Training Center proudly participated in the 2nd Annual Public Safety Day, hosted by the 2015 Leadership Monroe class. This event was held Saturday, October 24, 2015 from 10:00am – 3:00pm. The day of family fun was dedicated to celebrating Georgia’s public safety employees and Monroe County’s designation as the Public Safety Capital of Georgia.

Jason Jones and Lee Croxton of the Georgia Police Academy were on hand to provide complimentary fingerprinting of children in attendance. Jenny Lynn Bruner and Chris Harris of the Georgia Fire Academy brought out their fire truck and allowed attendees to try on their fire fighting gear.

Other state agencies also participated. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation set up a crime scene, brought out their bomb robot, and even did a demolition demo. The Department of Corrections performed a COBRA Squad demo, the Department of Natural Resources and the Georgia State Patrol showcased their drug dogs identifying a suspicious package, and GEMA and the Department of Community Services set up informational booths.

Local agencies also participated in the fun. The Forsyth Fire Department, Monroe County Fire Department, Forsyth Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies provided demonstrations ranging from a car extrication/rescue, to the extinguishment of a live fire, to the opportunity to take the Police Department’s Segway for a spin.

Also on display was the in-progress Fire Safety House, an initiative of the Leadership Monroe class. The Fire Safety House will be donated to the Forsyth Fire Department upon completion for use in training Monroe County’s elementary school children on fire safety. In addition to the construction of the Fire Safety House, Leadership Monroe will be donating several new sets of gear to the Monroe County Fire Department.

Check out more pictures of the day’s events at Flickr.com!

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The Georgia Public Safety Training Center and the Georgia Police Academy celebrated the opening of two new state-of-the-art training facilities. The November 9^th ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours marked the official opening of the Active Shooter Building and the Live Fire Shoot House.

The new 1.2 million dollar Active Shooter Building and $400,000 Live Fire Shoot House are the results of research and planning by GPSTC leadership and instructors who recognized the need for officers to train in realistic simulations. Their construction would not have been possible without the support of the members of the General Assembly and the Governor.

The Active Shooter Building, located in the Mock Village, is a fully functional 7,200 square foot training facility simulating a school or business. Instructors and role players can set up scenarios in virtually any room to allow students to train for an active shooter response and numerous other scenarios where citizens could be in danger. Using the latest technology, materials, and movable walls, instructors can set up rooms in countless configurations. This challenges the students to constantly reevaluate their tactics and trains them to make better decisions.

The Live Fire Shoot House, located in the Firearms complex, is a 360-degree live fire training facility that allows realistic close quarter training in a simulated home or business. Covering approximately 2,000 square feet, the facility utilizes rifle grade steel to provide safe containment of live rounds fired inside any room. Specially designed ballistic foam furniture is used to add realism to the training by simulating various settings. The walls, bullet traps, floor plan, tension lock doors, and the catwalk were all designed using the latest cutting-edge shoot house technology to provide students with the best, most realistic training possible.

Check out more photos at Flickr.com!

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Fox 5 Atlanta’s Dana Fowle was on scene for an exclusive demonstration at the new GPSTC Active Shooter Building. Check out her coverage at Fox 5 Atlanta and then head over to Flickr.com for more pictures of the action.

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The Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth, Georgia is pleased to announce the Georgia Police Academy Traffic Section has received two training grants from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS).

The first is a $483,600.00 grant for advanced DUI/Impaired Driving training and the second is a $34,800.00 grant for Speed Detection & Enforcement training. Both grants will begin October 1, 2015 and run through September 30, 2016. These programs will help finance training for all state and local law enforcement agencies within the state of Georgia.

Under the advanced DUI/Impaired Driving training grant, the Drug Recognition Expert, DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing programs provide law enforcement officers in the field with the training and knowledge to arrest and successfully prosecute offenders. “The ultimate goal of our program is to prevent the needless injuries and deaths that are directly attributed to impaired drivers,” said GPSTC Impaired Driving Program Manager Jonathan Fuss.

The Speed Detection & Enforcement programs provide law enforcement officers in the field with the training and knowledge to proactively enforce speed laws and successfully prosecute offenders. Fuss, also the GPSTC Speed Detection and Enforcement Program Manager, stated that this program’s ultimate goal is to “prevent the needless injuries and deaths that are directly attributed to excessive speed.”

“The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is committed to keeping everyone safe on our roads and highways, from the smallest precious cargo to the most seasoned drivers,” said GOHS Director Harris Blackwood. He stated that both grants “will help GPSTC keep Georgians safer on our roadways.”

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Sample of Official License Plate

The Georgia Department of Revenue will be launching a new vehicle tag for public safety first responders who have been injured in the line of duty. These tags will be available soon and are based on HB48, which called for a new license plate for law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS, 911 operators, and other first responders who have sustained major injury in the performance of their official duties. If you qualify, you can begin the application process by completing this form.

For information on House Bill 48, that provided legislation for this new license plate, go to: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/48

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Bruce Stanford, GPA, and Truman Boyle, GSP, conducted strike tests as part of the first ever Pedestrian Crash Investigation course. The tests were held at the GPSTC on December 2, 2015. Stanford stated, “These tests help the students visualize the different types of strikes involved in pedestrian crashes and also serve as a platform to validate the formulas that we teach for solving impact speeds in pedestrian collisions.” Stanford also gives special thanks to Chief Chuck Odom from Union City Police Department.

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On Monday, December 14, 2015, the Georgia Public Safety Training Center hosted the 2015 Governor’s Public Safety Awards. Governor Nathan Deal was on campus to help honor an outstanding group of Public Safety Officers who were brave in the face of danger and have shown outstanding commitment to their sworn duties.

More pictures are available at Flickr.com.

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The Georgia Police Academy’s Motorcycle Crash Investigation course was held the week of December 14-18, 2015. This course is designed to provide traffic crash investigators with a better understanding of the motorcycle design, handling characteristics and highway behavior. The investigators also learn to recognize and analyze motorcycle skid mark evidence, analyze damage and calculate impact and pre-impact speeds through formulas developed for motorcycles and their riders.

As part of this training, Bruce Stanford and Truman Boyle executed a motorcycle crash test on December 16. The test was designed to replicate a crash where the vehicle experienced rotation due to an eccentric strike from the motorcycle.  Calculations were then done solving for the torque at the tires, rotation rate, and change in velocity upon impact.  The crash was successful in validating the methods taught in the classroom.

Stanford gives special thanks to Chief Chuck Odom and Jason McDowell from the Union City Police Department and Pete Jones and Joey Powell from the Cobb County Police Department.

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The Georgia Police Academy is pleased to announce the launch of the Clandestine Laboratory Investigator Re-Certification online course. The course is designed to provide Certified Clandestine Laboratory Investigators with their annual eight-hour re-certification training in a convenient online format. This course meets the annual re-certification requirements as outlined by OSHA 1910.120 (e)(8).

Topics will include an overview of lab activities, respiratory protection, site control, chemical handling, legal issues, and updates on state and local clandestine laboratory trends.

To be accepted into the course, students must meet all prerequisites listed below:

1. The student must have completed the DEA Clandestine Laboratory Investigations/Safety Certification Course or if previously certified must have completed an 8 hour re-certification within the previous 12 months. (Proof of certification required)
2. The student must be a state or local law enforcement officer or forensic chemist assigned to investigate and process illicit clandestine drug laboratories. (Statement of job duties on department letterhead)
3. The student must be certified by a licensed medical doctor as being of good health and physically able to perform the duties of a clandestine laboratory investigator. (Physician signed statement of health)
4. The student must provide proof of a current fit test using their issued air-purifying respirator; a competent safety officer must conduct the fit test. (Fit Test Form)

The student’s prerequisite packet must be submitted to GPSTC Registration prior to the start of class. Ensure that your name, the course title, and the course number are clearly stated. The packet may be mailed, faxed or emailed to Registration.
Mail: GPSTC Registration 1000 Indian Springs Drive, Forsyth, GA 31029
Fax: 478-993-4303
Email: registrar@gpstc.org

For any questions concerning prerequisites, contact the course instructor, Art Musselman, at 478-993-4507 or amusselman@gpstc.org.

Please note that if you are accepted into the course, you MUST complete the Student Code of Ethics for Online Courses assignment BY THE END OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE COURSE. Failure to complete this step will result in your removal from the course and you will need to re-register for a future course offering. All other course materials, reading assignments, and the final exam must be completed on or before the last day of the course.

Register today!

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Registration is now open for the 2016 NFA Firefighter Weekend, March 19-20, in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Check out the flyer and the registration form for all of the details. Make sure you register before February 5 to ensure your seat!

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The Georgia Fire Academy announces three February courses for the NIMS program. These include IS 300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents, IS 400: Advanced ICS and the Command and General Staff for Local IMTs. Each course plays an important role of educating public safety personnel to assist local, state and federal agencies in their efforts to fulfill their designated roles in emergency management response. These courses provide a consistent, nationwide approach for federal, state and local governments to work together effectively to prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents regardless of size or complexity.

IS300     02/01/2016 to 02/03/2016     FFAA16026
This 24-hour course describes the incident and event management process for supervisors and expanding incidents as prescribed by the Incident Command System. It also describes how the NIMS command and management component supports the management of expanding incidents. Students will implement the incident management system process on simulated type 3 incidents and develop an incident action plan.

IS400     02/04/2016 to 02/05/2016     FFAA16034
This 16-hour course is intended to provide training on and resources for personnel who require advanced application of the Incident Command System (ICS). It is designed for senior public safety personnel and will provide information on how they are expected to perform in a management capacity in an Area Command or Multiagency Coordination Entity.

Command and General Staff for Local IMTs     02/15/2016 to 02/20/2016     FFAA16043
This 48-hour course enables students to demonstrate knowledge of the Incident Command System (ICS) and the Command and General Staff functions as they affect planning and implementation of the ICS for an incident at the local level, through instructor-driven lecture, class participation, active contributions to the interactive activities, and simulations.

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The Georgia Police Academy will be conducting a Specialized Patrol Techniques course, February 3-4, 2016. This 16-hour course is designed to provide peace officers with a working knowledge of the current techniques of traditional and specialized patrol programs as well as information on current and future trends in patrol service. This course can be applied to the officer’s POST Advanced Certification requirements. Register now, seating is limited!

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The Georgia Smoke Divers course scheduled for February 28 through March 4, 2016 will not be held on Forsyth campus of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.  The course will be held at the Dalton Fire Department. This course delivery will not be eligible for training credit as a Georgia Public Safety Training Center course. For more information, please refer to the Georgia Smoke Diver website at http://www.georgiasmokediver.com/.

The post Georgia Smoke Divers Course Information appeared first on GPSTC.

The Georgia Police Academy will be conducting two offerings of Interpersonal Communications in March. The offerings will be held March 3 and March 4 at the main GPSTC campus in Forsyth.

In addition to helping students achieve their POST Intermediate Certification, this 8-hour course is designed to provide law enforcement officers with a working knowledge of effective communication skills. This will be accomplished through lecture, student self-study, and group exercises. The group exercises will serve as a valuable tool in determining the students’ understanding of the course material.

Register today, seating is limited!

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The Georgia Police Academy will be conducting another offering of the Specialized Patrol Techniques course, February 22-23, 2016. This 16-hour course is designed to provide peace officers with a working knowledge of the current techniques of traditional and specialized patrol programs as well as information on current and future trends in patrol service. This course can be applied to the officer’s POST Advanced Certification requirements. Register now, seating is limited!

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On Feb 17, 2016, Bruce Stanford and Truman Boyle conducted pedestrian crash testing. This testing is part of the Georgia Police Academy’s Pedestrian Crash Investigation course.  The testing data is collected and the formulas are validated based on the known values from the crash tests.

Video credit: Truman Boyle

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Dana Safety Supply and Sig Sauer will be demonstrating weapons at the GPA Firearms complex on March 2, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. until lunch. Representatives will be demonstrating pistols, rifles, and silencers.

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The Georgia Police Academy will be conducting a Clandestine Laboratory Site Safety Officer course at the Forsyth GPSTC campus on April 26-28, 2016. This 24-hour course is open to any certified clandestine laboratory investigator who may be required to act as the site safety officer of future clandestine laboratory investigative sites.

The certification prerequisite means that students should have already completed a Basic Clandestine Laboratory Investigators course and must have maintained that certification through the mandatory annual re-certification specified by OSHA 1910.120 & 1910.134.

The Clandestine Laboratory Site Safety Officer course is designed to pick up where the basic course leaves off, giving more in-depth training and information on the mechanisms necessary to safely conduct a clandestine laboratory investigation. At the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to work as a site safety officer in the on-scene ICS chain, handling all safety related issues.

Seating is limited, register today!

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April 20, 1999 at approximately 11:20 AM, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold entered Columbine High School in Columbine Colorado and began a massacre in which 12 students and 1 teacher were killed along with 21 injured. Police Tactics of the time had the responding officers secure the perimeter of the building and wait for SWAT, which is exactly what they did. SWAT cleared the building and found the bodies of the perpetrators at approximately 3:30 PM.

Fast forward 16 years to October 01, 2015, Roseburg Oregon, Umpqua Community College. At approximately 10:38 AM, Christopher Harper-Mercer entered Snyder Hall and began to massacre students and faculty, killing 8 students and 1 teacher. At 10:44 AM, six minutes later, two plain clothes officers from Roseburg Police Department entered Snyder Hall and became engaged in a gunfight. The entire incident lasted approximately 8 minutes.

So what was the difference? Rapid Response Active Shooter Training is what made the difference! Rapid Response Training empowers the first responders to enter a crisis site and stop the killing of innocent people long before a Tactical Team can be assembled.

At the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, we are dedicated to empowering the State of Georgia’s first responders with the skills and ability to combat the most dedicated murderers through training such as Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training, also known as A.L.E.R.R.T. We use an actual school building, house, store, gas station and motel to give hands on, real time, force on force training in the actual environment the officers will respond. Our goal is to make the training as realistic as the incident will be in the real world, pushing students to their limits.

Check out the online Atlantic magazine documentary featuring this training.
http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/426558/active-shooter/

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