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POST adds 44th learning domain — active‑shooter response — to basic academy curriculum
Summary
The commission approved a new Learning Domain 44 (active‑shooter) after a state‑wide pilot across academies. The domain emphasizes judgment on rapid vs. systematic responses, solo and team movement exercises and tactical movement skills; POST staff recommended a 16‑hour Module 1 and 6‑hour Module 2 addition to the basic course.
The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training voted Thursday to adopt a new basic‑academy learning domain focused on active‑shooter/active‑assailant response and tactics.
POST staff said the domain (Learning Domain 44) was piloted in late 2024 at several academies — including the California Highway Patrol, Orange County Sheriff, Riverside County Sheriff, Sacramento County Sheriff, San Diego Regional Public Safety Training Institute, San Joaquin Delta College and Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center — and that pilot participants provided questionnaire‑based validation of the proposed content.
LEC Brandon Kiley told commissioners the content emphasizes situational judgment about when to use rapid, direct response tactics (to stop an ongoing killing) versus a slower, systematic containment/search approach. The domain’s required learning activities include solo‑officer and team movements, formations, bounding and overwatch practice, and instructor‑led coaching to reinforce correct decision‑making.
The commission approved adding the domain to the regular basic course. Staff proposed allocating 16 hours of instruction in Module 1 and 6 hours in Module 2 for the domain. The measure passed on a roll‑call vote with all commissioners voting yes.
Why it matters: The new domain formalizes active‑assailant response training in the POST basic curriculum and asks academies to train officers on tactical movement, decision rules and immediate coaching. POST staff said this will help officers better judge when a rapid, direct response is warranted to stop ongoing mass‑casualty events.
What’s next: POST staff and the academy community will incorporate the domain and share lesson‑plan examples with course presenters and directors; commissioners asked staff to monitor instructor standards and implementation consistency across academies.
