Mastering Proactive Policing for Patrol

Being proactive on patrol is about more than just making stops—it’s about spotting crime before it happens and handling it safely and legally. This course gives patrol officers the skills and knowledge to confidently interdict criminal activity while keeping themselves and the community safe.

You’ll learn to recognize the signs of stress and resistance in people you encounter, including freeze, flight, and fight behaviors, plus the subtle cues that come before them. The course covers building reasonable suspicion, conducting roadside interviews, building rapport, and knowing when (and how) to ask for consent. Body camera footage and scenario-based exercises bring these skills to life and give you hands-on practice in real-world situations.

What You’ll Learn

• Human Factors in Encounters
  Understand how the body’s stress responses (freeze, flight, fight) play out—and how to read pre-flight and pre-assault signals.
  
  

• Real-World Application
  Review actual body cam footage to see proactive skills in action during pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle stops.
  
  

• Legal and Tactical Proficiency
  Develop reasonable suspicion, conduct interviews that get results, and know what to do when consent is denied but suspicion remains.
  
  

• Officer Safety
  Sharpen your awareness and use perception, fieldcraft and impression management to stay safe and in control.

By the end of this course, you’ll be ready to identify and tackle criminal activity proactively, balancing officer safety with sound legal practices. You’ll leave with the confidence and versatility to handle even the most complex street-level encounters professionally.