President's Column - Trained for the job at hand
“The point I make is while commonsense would dictate some groups need more training than others, we all owe it to ourselves and others, including colleagues and those who place expectations on us because we are police officers, to be able to intervene when required.”
Last month Police News featured a series of articles on Staff Safety Tactical Training (SSTT). These articles were triggered by concerns we have been hearing from members concerned they are not getting enough training for an increasingly dangerous job. They were from frontline police who come into contact with the public and offenders as part of their job.
We are working with the administration to ensure that sufficient training is available. On the other hand, there are others who wish to be exempted from any SSTT because of the sedentary nature of their job.
Those members need to consider that the fact they are police officers means they could actually be required to intervene in situations on, and even more likely off duty, by people who know they are officers and have expectations of them.
A case recently dealt with by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) illustrates the point. A member was attacked when delivering a document at court, and the offender died of positional asphyxia when being subdued. The IPCA made specific comment about SSTT training and policies in relation to OC spray, use of restraints, and the risk of positional asphyxia.
Our officer’s training and certification was up to date and he was fully exonerated, but we see how much pressure and scrutiny officers come under following incidents, regardless of the justification. Insufficient or incomplete training just gives more ammunition to those critics. Not to mention, of course, adding to the physical risk of being injured in such encounters.
The point I make is while commonsense would dictate some groups need more training than others, we all owe it to ourselves and others, including colleagues and those who place expectations on us because we are police officers, to be able to intervene when required. And that essentially means anyone wearing a uniform, or part uniform, or known by his or her fellow citizens or even family to be a police officer.
Obviously, policing has changed and we require an increasingly broad and specialised range of skills. However, the criminals we police, however sophisticated, still exist in a world where physicality and intimidation form the backdrop. An important part of reassuring our public we can protect them is to be able and prepared to overcome such intimidation, and the public does not differentiate between job descriptions in that expectation.
The Association therefore encourages all officers to insist on receiving sufficient training, so you can remain confident you can deal with confrontational situations. As I often quote, a great philosopher once said: “If your opponent thinks you won’t use force, you will end up having to use it.”
