FLETC ournal Volume 11

Summer

2013

FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTERS

 ARTESIA CHARLESTON CHELTENHAM GLYNCO 

J

BACKCOUNTRY 

TACTICS AND

TRAINING

Page 34

FLETC

ACHIEVEMENTS

SINCE 9/11

Page 23
2 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

Foreword

Joseph W. Wright

Assistant Director 

Field Training Directorate

Change has come knocking at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers 

(FLETC) door, bringing new challenges to carrying out our mission and every 

aspect of the business lines that support it. In fact, as an organization FLETC 

has probably experienced more change this past 18 months than in the past 10 

years combined. Consider that we have created a new directorate, the Centralized 

Training Management Directorate, which was established to ensure that we plan, 

coordinate and execute training management services in an enterprise-wide manner. 

We completely reorganized our state and local training delivery in the Office of 

State, Local, Rural, Tribal and Territorial Training (SLRTT). We created a true “one FLETC” instructional 

model, bringing the Field Training Directorate and the Glynco Training Directorate into a true partnership 

for training delivery. We also established a new Protocol and Communications Office, expanded our Security 

and Emergency Management programs, and set in motion plans to enable FLETC to continue to serve our 

Partner Organizations in the potential face of the most austere budget cuts in recent memory.

Although challenges lie ahead, as I visit with the staff around the Center, I don’t hear conversations of 

gloom and doom. To the contrary, I hear conversations reflecting the excitement and encouragement that our 

staff continues to bring to our mission. They embrace the new challenges and want to accomplish our mission 

not only when we are flush with resources, but also when great resource limitations become the norm. The 

instructional staff continues to provide the highest quality law enforcement training not only at our FLETC 

sites, but across the United States and the rest of the world through our SLRTT and international law 

enforcement training programs.

I am encouraged to be a member of a group of professionals who come to work each day focused on 

protecting our homeland, giving all they have to offer and always remaining focused on those whom they 

serve and with whom they seek solutions to issues. We carry out our duties in this manner because we know 

that what we do makes a difference in the security of our great Nation and with the officers and agents who 

perform law enforcement functions both domestically and abroad.

I want to say sincerely “thank you” to each member of this great organization. Thank you for accepting the 

changes, and helping ensure those changes lead to a more efficient and productive organization. FLETC’s 

accomplishments are your accomplishments. They are due to each of you embracing change and stepping 

up to meet the FLETC mission to, “train those who protect our homeland” and to remain focused on those 

whom we serve.

Joseph W. Wright

Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

1131 Chapel Crossing Road

Glynco, Georgia 31524

Cover Photograph: Military service members render honors as fire and rescue workers unfurl a huge American flag over the side of the Pentagon during rescue and recovery efforts following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. (Sept. 12, 2001) 

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Michael W. Pendergrass.
www.fletc.gov 3

2 Foreword

Message from Assistant 

Director Joseph Wright

9 FLETC Delivers Training 

to State, Local, Rural, Tribal 

and Territorial Partners

FLETC provides tuition-free 

training to non-federal law 

enforcement professionals.

13 In the Line of Duty: 

Distracted Driving

So, how is distracted 

driving different for law 

enforcement?

29 Digital Forensics Tools 

for Tomorrow 

First responders require 

training on the identification, 

preservation, collection and 

transportation of digital 

media. 

32 The First 24 Hours 

The first 24 hours is the 

most critical time in an 

investigation.

39 FLETA Anniversary

Celebrating 10 years of 

excellence.

43 CBP Air and Marine 

Basic Training Academy

The Academy is embarking on 

a new era of scenario-based 

training.

Recent high profile events around the country have illustrated the 

need for tactical tracking for law enforcement officers and agents.

What techniques and 

skill sets does the law 

enforcement investigator 

possess to make certain 

they are getting all of the 

information the interviewee 

is capable of providing?

FLETC

Achievements

Since 9-11

SUMMER 2013 VOLUME 11, ISSUE 1

Our nation’s invigorated focus 

on fighting terrorism around 

the globe and in our own 

back yard created a demand 

for law enforcement training 

beyond what FLETC had ever 

experienced.

FLETCJ

34

19

23

BACKCOUNTRY TACTICS & TRAINING

The Cognitive 

Interview
4 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

The FLETC Journal is a law enforcement training 

magazine produced and published by the Federal Law 

Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC). It is produced, 

published, and printed through a joint collaboration with the 

Protocol and Communications Office and the Government 

Printing Office. The printed circulation is 3,000 and is also 

available electronically on the FLETC website at http://

www.fletc.gov/about-fletc

The content of this publication is written in accordance 

to the guidelines of the Associated Press (AP) style. Views 

and opinions expressed in this publication are those of 

the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the FLETC 

training policy or doctrine. Articles, photographs, and other 

contributions are welcomed from the law enforcement 

training community and academia. Publication depends on 

general topical interest as judged by the editors. 

The FLETC Delivers Training to State, 

Local, Rural, Tribal and Territorial Partners

Dina Martinez is a regional coordinator/

instructor for the Office of 

State, Local, Rural, Tribal and 

Territorial (SLRTT), Federal 

Law Enforcement Training 

Centers, Glynco, Ga. She 

coordinates programs for the 

Southeast Region of the United 

States and is the primary exporter of the 

State & Local Law Enforcement Training 

Symposium (SLLETS). Prior to her position 

at the SLRTT, Martinez was a Customs and 

Border Protection (CBP) course developer/

instructor detailed to the FLETC’s Physical 

Techniques Division.

Martinez began her law enforcement career 

as a Texas State trooper assigned to Laredo, 

TX. As a trooper, she gained recognition as a 

leader in fugitive apprehensions, DWI arrest 

and as an area representative for women in 

law enforcement. She was assigned corporal 

duties and had achieved Trooper II status. She 

assisted the Texas Rangers, Motor Vehicle Theft 

Services, Narcotics Division and the Special 

Crimes Division during operations. During 

that time, she worked part-time for the U.S. 

Marshals Service.

Martinez was hired by the federal 

government under the legacy Immigration 

and Naturalization Service as an immigration 

inspector. After the merger in 2003, she became 

a CBP Officer and worked as a member of the 

Manifest Enforcement Team. She was later 

selected as the lead instructor for the port’s 

training team that conducted national and 

international training on programs such as the 

Passenger Interview and Vehicle Interdiction 

Training and the International Border 

Interdiction Training Program. 

Martinez has worked as a Pre-Trial Bond 

Officer for Webb County in Laredo, TX., 

FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTERS

FLETCJournal

DIRECTOR

Connie L. Patrick

EDITORIAL TEAM

COPY EDITORS

Charles Fiese

Patricia Golden

Margaret Sullivan

Malcolm Adams

Michael DeBoe

Peggy Dixon

LAYOUT/GRAPHICS

Keith Gartman

Front Row (L-R): Alicia Gregory, Jen Tocco, Susan Thornton

Second Row: Carl Milazzo, Preston Farley, Dominick Braccio

Third Row: Bobby Masano, Ed McGuire, Karen Lane

Fourth Row: Ed Sizemore, William Norris, Kevin Miller

Not Pictured: Jeff DuPont, Richard Speed, Kevin Thornton
www.fletc.gov 5

and as an immigration enforcement agent 

with Immigration and Customs Enforcement 

(ICE). She is currently working on her Bachelor 

of Science Degree in Criminal Justice with 

a concentration on Computer Information 

Security at Strayer University in Savannah, Ga.

In the Line of Duty: Distracted Driving

Michael Robbs began his law enforcement 

career in 1980, serving with the 

Chattanooga Police Department 

for 11 1⁄2 years. During this time 

he worked as a patrol officer, 

Special Weapons and Tactics 

(SWAT) officer, Special Police 

Operations Team (SPOT) 

member, Communications Division supervisor, 

and he was an instructor in the Chattanooga 

Police Academy. 

Employed at the FLETC since July 1991, 

Robbs has instructed and/or managed in the 

Physical Techniques Division, Driver and 

Marine Division, Counterterrorism Division, 

and he was a program manager in the FLETC 

Orlando, Fla., office. In February 2012, Robbs 

was transferred back to the Driver and Marine 

Division in Glynco, Ga., where he is currently 

assigned as the Chief of the Basic Driving 

Branch.

Backcountry Tactics and Tracking Training 

Program

David Brewer has worked for the FLETC 

for nearly 24 years in Glynco 

and now at the Office of Artesia 

Operations. He has worked in 

Physical Techniques Division, 

Enforcement Operations, and 

Enforcement Techniques Division 

in Georgia and in the General 

Training Branch in Artesia. He is the team 

leader for the Backcountry Tactics and Training 

Contributors

Program and has been since the program’s 

inception. He currently is a Senior Instructor in 

General Training Branch in Artesia, NM. 

Prior to working for FLETC he was a city, 

county, and state law enforcement officer, 

primarily in criminal investigations and Special 

Operations Units for 21 years in Florida and 

Arkansas. 

Wes Hoekwater began his law enforcement 

career with the Georgia 

Department of Natural Resources 

(Law Enforcement Section) in 

1996. During his tenure with 

the Ga. DNR, he held positions 

as conservation ranger, corporal, 

firearms instructor, and honor 

guard member. In 2003, Hoekwater accepted 

an instructor position with the FLETC. He has 

served as an instructor, senior instructor, and 

program specialist in the Driver and Marine 

Division. He is currently a branch chief in the 

Enforcement Operations Division’s Operational 

Skills Branch. Hoekwater is a veteran of 

the U.S. Army, and is a graduate of Georgia 

College and State University with a Bachelor 

of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He is 

currently pursuing a Masters in Post-Secondary 

Education at Troy University.

Digital Forensic Tools of Tomorrow for First 

Responders and The First 24 Hours

John Riley joined the Computer and Financial 

Investigations Division in 

February 2007 as an instructor 

in the Computer Network 

Investigations Training Program. 

In January 2009, Riley was 

promoted to branch chief of the 

Digital Forensics Branch, with 

oversight for all computer forensics programs. 

He came to FLETC from the Army, where 

he served for more than 20 years. Riley started 
6 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

his career in January 1987, when he enlisted 

as a Military Policeman. In January 1992, 

he was accepted into the Army’s Criminal 

Investigations Command as a CID Special 

Agent. 

In 2000, Riley was selected for assignment 

and advanced training as a full-time computer 

forensic examiner with the 202nd MP Group 

(CID), in Heidelberg, Germany. In December 

2001, he was appointed as the Special Agent in 

Charge of the computer crimes unit. Riley left 

his position with Army CID in Europe, and 

retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 in 2007.

A Match: The Cognitive Interview Enhances 

the Five Step Law Enforcement Interview

Patricia Donovan is a senior instructor at 

the FLETC in Glynco, Ga. She 

has served the FLETC for the 

past two years as an Instructor 

in the Behavioral Science 

Division, where she teaches 

basic and advanced interviewing 

to criminal investigators and 

uniformed police officers.

Her prior law enforcement service includes 

13 years as an officer and investigator with the 

DeKalb County (Georgia) Police Department, 

and eight years as a special agent with the 

United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field 

Office. She has received numerous awards from 

DeKalb County Police Department, the Drug 

Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the 

United States Secret Service for outstanding 

case work.

Donovan received a Bachelor of Science 

Degree in Mental Health and Human 

Resources from Georgia State University in 

Atlanta, Ga. She is currently pursuing her 

Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice (Criminal 

Behavioral Analysis) at the University of 

Cincinnati.

FLETC Achievements Since 9/11

Connie Patrick was selected as the fifth 

Director of the Federal Law 

Enforcement Training Centers 

(FLETC) in July 2002. 

Previously, Patrick spent over 

six years in various FLETC 

Associate Director positions. 

She provides oversight for the 

training of the majority of federal officers 

and agents. FLETC serves over 90 federal 

agencies; provides training to state, local, and 

international police; and graduates over 70,000 

students annually.

Headquartered on approximately 1,600 acres 

at Glynco, near Brunswick, Ga., the FLETC 

also operates facilities in Artesia, New Mexico; 

Charleston, South Carolina; Cheltenham, 

Maryland; and provides academic, operational 

and program support for the International 

Law Enforcement Academies in Gaborone, 

Botswana; San Salvador, El Salvador; Bangkok, 

Thailand and Budapest, Hungary. 

Prior to her appointment at the FLETC, 

Patrick completed a distinguished 20-year 

sworn law enforcement career in Florida, 

starting in 1976 as a deputy sheriff with the 

Brevard County Sheriff ’s Office. She served in 

uniform patrol, vice and narcotics, homicide, 

and intelligence. In 1981, Patrick became a 

special agent with the Florida Department 

of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The FDLE 

investigated protracted multi jurisdictional 

organized crime in the State of Florida. Patrick 

was promoted to special agent supervisor, 

Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the 

Tampa Regional Operations Bureau, Special 

Agent in Charge of the FDLE Intelligence and 

Investigative Support Bureau, Director of the 

Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute 

in Tallahassee, and retired as Director of the 

Division of Human Resources and Training. 

FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTERS

FLETCJournal
www.fletc.gov 7

Patrick is active in the community and serves 

as an advisor to the College of Coastal Georgia 

Foundation. She serves as the Chairperson of 

the INTERPOL Group of Experts on Police 

Training (IGEPT) and serves on the Executive 

Committee of the National Law Enforcement 

Exploring Committee. 

Patrick has received numerous awards, 

including the Distinguished Presidential Rank 

Award and the Presidential Meritorious Rank 

Award, the government’s highest Civil Service 

awards. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Arts degree 

in Criminal Justice from the University of 

Central Florida.

Jen Tocco began her civil service career in 

2008, and currently serves as a 

management and program analyst 

in the Director’s Office. She 

previously held positions in the 

Office of State and Local Training 

and the Rural Policing Institute. 

Prior to moving to Georgia, Tocco 

worked in the nonprofit and academic sectors. 

Her nonprofit background consists of fundraising and program management positions, 

including Donor Relations Director for the 

Salvation Army’s New Jersey Division and 

assistant director for the Scholarship Fund for 

Inner-City Children in Newark, New Jersey. 

While completing her graduate studies, 

Tocco served as a research fellow at the Rutgers 

Graduate School of Education’s Center 

for Educational Policy Analysis, where she 

worked on research teams conducting studies 

in a variety of topics, including educational 

accountability and evaluation, charter schools, 

and school voucher programs. She was 

responsible for data collection, data analysis, 

and writing, with a specialty in qualitative 

research methods. Tocco holds a Bachelor of 

Arts with a double major in Political Science 

and History from Drew University, a Master of 

Contributors

Education degree with a focus on Educational 

Policy and Qualitative Research methods from 

Rutgers University, and a Master of Public 

Administration degree from Valdosta State 

University. She also completed all doctoral 

coursework in educational policy while at 

Rutgers.

FLETA: Past, Present and Future

Billy McLeod joined the Office of 

Accreditation as a program 

manager in February 2010. He 

began his law enforcement career 

where he served 91⁄2 years in the 

U.S. Coast Guard active duty 

and reserves. He specialized in 

maritime anti-terrorism, port 

security, and force protection and served two 

deployments in the Middle East as part of 

a port security unit. He was detailed as an 

instructor at the U.S. Coast Guard Special 

Missions Training Center, Camp Lejeune, NC, 

where he taught small boat combat tactics.

McLeod joined the Federal Law Enforcement 

Training Centers (FLETC) in Glynco, Ga., 

in 2004 where he served as a senior instructor 

in the Driver and Marine Division, Marine 

Training Branch. He developed and oversaw all 

aspects of the Boat Operators Anti-Terrorism 

Training program, as well as serving as a senior 

instructor in the Marine Law Enforcement 

Training Program, Inland Boat Operators 

Training Program, and periodically the Law 

Enforcement Instructor Training Program. 

McLeod participated in the accreditation 

of numerous FLETC divisional and centerwide programs. He also served as an assessor 

for the Federal Law Enforcement Training 

Accreditation Board. Additionally, he has 

served as an adjunct instructor for the United 

States Merchant Marine Academy’s Global 

Maritime and Transportation School.
8 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

More Contributors

McLeod has a Bachelor of Science degree in 

Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in PostSecondary Education with a focus in Criminal 

Justice from Troy University.

Bob Bruton joined the Federal Law 

Enforcement Training 

Accreditation (FLETA) Office of 

Accreditation team as a program 

manager in November 2008. 

Prior to his assignment to 

FLETA, Bob served with the 

Federal Reserve System’s Law Enforcement 

Division. His assignments included Chief of 

Law Enforcement for the Jacksonville field 

office, Director of Law Enforcement for the 

Sixth Federal Reserve District, and Project 

Leader for the Board of Governors. Some 

of his accomplishments include standing-up 

the Federal Reserve’s first Law Enforcement 

Training Center and the development of the 

basic and in-service curricula approved by the 

Attorney General when the System received 

Federal authority in 2001. 

Bob retired from the U.S. Air Force as a chief 

master sergeant after twenty years of service. 

At the time of his retirement, Bob served as 

the chief, law enforcement operations. His law 

enforcement career also included leadership roles 

in the investigations, training, physical security, 

and personnel security divisions. 

Bob has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice 

Administration and is a Distinguished Graduate 

of the U.S. Air Force Senior Noncommissioned 

Officer Academy. He was also the recipient of 

the Federal Reserve’s Chairman’s Award in 2007.

James Hensley has been with the U.S. Office of 

Personnel Management – Federal 

Investigative Services (FIS) since 

2006. His previous employment 

history includes working as a police 

officer in Chesterfield County, 

Va. and as a special agent with the U.S. Secret 

Service. Hensley has been with the federal 

government since 2000 and is a graduate of the 

Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) 

at the FLETC and the U.S. Secret Service 

Academy.

Since joining OPM, Hensley has served as 

instructor, a team leader, and is currently a 

supervisory training specialist as well as the 

Accreditation Manager. 

Hensley holds a Bachelor of Science in 

Administration of Justice from Penn State 

University and an Master of Science in Criminal 

Justice Administration from Columbia Southern 

University.

CBP Air and Marine Basic Training Academy

Jan E. Morin is a supervisory course 

developer/instructor (SCDI) 

assigned to the U.S. Customs and 

Border Protection’s (CBP’s) Field 

Operations Academy (FOA). 

Morin started her career as an 

immigration inspector with the 

former Immigration and Naturalization Service 

(INS) in 2002 and became a CBP officer with 

the creation of Department of Homeland 

Security and Customs and Border Protection 

in 2003. She served at the land border port-ofentry of Lancaster, M.N., the Pre-Clearance 

port of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the 

seaport of Duluth, M.N. Morin transferred to 

the FOA as a SCDI in January of 2011. She 

received formal training as a photographer, 

photojournalist and public affairs officer while 

serving in the United States Marine Corps and 

the Minnesota National Guard. Morin has a 

bachelor’s degree in information media from 

St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and 

graduate studies in educational multimedia at 

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 

California.
www.fletc.gov 9

Let’s talk training! Did you know that in addition to providing law 

enforcement training to more than 90 federal Partner Organizations, the 

Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) also provides training 

to our nation’s first responders in our state, local, rural, tribal and territorial 

law enforcement agencies? FLETC makes tuition-free training available to 

the more than 800,000 non-federal law enforcement professionals who dedicate 

their lives to the protection of our homeland on the city streets, county roads, 

school campuses, tribal lands and other rural and urban communities that span 

our great nation and its territories. 

By Dina Martinez

The FLETC Delivers Training to 

State, Local, Rural, Tribal and 

Territorial Partners

United States map shows sites where the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers have delivered state, local, rural, tribal and territorial training.
10 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

State and local law enforcement officers receive tactical training.

The Office of State, Local, Rural, Tribal and 

Territorial Training (SLRTT), located at the 

FLETC’s Glynco, Ga., campus, is dedicated to 

providing training for our nation’s non-federal 

law enforcement partners. The office has been 

in existence since 1982 and has undergone 

significant changes over the decades; however, it 

still remains steadfast in its primary directive of 

training America’s state, local, rural, tribal and 

territorial law enforcement officers. 

In 1982, a “Justice-Treasury State and Local 

Law Enforcement Training Program” was 

established in response to the findings of the 

Attorney General’s Task Force on Violent 

Crime. The task force members expressed 

serious concerns about the rising crime rate 

in the United States, and urged the federal 

government to take a more active role. A 

Justice-Treasury working group, including 

representatives from federal, state and local law 

enforcement agencies, as well as professional law 

enforcement associations, was formed to review 

the matter and make recommendations. The 

working group significantly expanded federallysponsored training to be offered by the FLETC. 

To further demonstrate the federal 

government’s commitment to these cooperative 

efforts, President Ronald Reagan announced 

the establishment of the National Center for 

State and Local Law Enforcement Training 

(National Center) on October 14, 1982, as a part 

of his anti-crime program. The creation of the 

National Center was based on the realization 

that while primary responsibility for law 

enforcement rests now, as it always has, with 

state and local governments, there are roles for 

the federal government to play, particularly in 

providing training in those areas where federal 

agencies have unique expertise. Over the years, 

the National Center, which later became the 

Office of State and Local Training (OSL), has 

experienced tremendous growth and numerous 

transformations. 

On August 3, 2007, House Resolution 1, 

Public Law 110-53, Section 209, directed the 

Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a 

Rural Policing Institute (RPI) administered by 

the FLETC. The RPI was made a subordinate 

division to the OSL until 2010 when it was 

established as an independent unit with the 

mission to serve the training needs of rural 

law enforcement agencies, including tribal law 

enforcement, and other emergency response 

providers operating in rural areas. 

The transformations were not yet complete. 

On January 29, 2012, as an outcome of the 

FLETC Bottom-Up Review, Director Connie 

Patrick combined the OSL and RPI into a 

single entity with primary responsibility for the 

FLETC’s training support to our non-federal 

customers; that entity is the SLRTT, a training 

delivery point assigned to the FLETC’s Field 

Training Directorate (FTD). The SLRTT 

provides advanced and specialized training via 

export training programs at locations across the 

United States, throughout Indian Country, as 

well as the U.S. territories. This export, tuition-
www.fletc.gov 11

A FLETC instructor observes state and local officers during an Active 

Shooter/Threat Training Program at FLETC Glynco.

free training is normally conducted at a host 

agency’s training facility. The FLETC, through 

the SLRTT, also provides training to nonfederal customers through web-based training, 

as well as paying tuition costs, as funds permit, 

for officers to attend FLETC advanced training 

programs on a space-available basis at any of the 

FLETC’s four domestic campuses in Artesia, 

N.M., Charleston, S.C., Cheltenham, Md., and 

Glynco, Ga. 

The SLRTT, in partnership with FTD and 

Glynco Training Directorate (GTD) instructors, 

also has begun periodically to provide training 

utilizing available space and resources at the 

FLETC’s domestic campuses. One of the 

SLRTT training offerings that has become 

very popular and is frequently requested is the 

State and Local Law Enforcement Training 

Symposium (SLLETS). The SLLETS is a large 

symposium, attracting anywhere from 100 to 

400 law enforcement officers at a time. Topics 

have included Use of Force, Officer Safety, 

Terrorism, Advanced Interviewing, Close 

Quarters Tactics, Active Shooter Response 

Tactics and Drug Interdiction, just to name a 

few. The coordination of a SLLETS is akin to 

the choreography of a major Broadway event! 

A SLLETS typically requires a minimum 

of six months’ lead time to plan. Training 

venues, training topics, instructor availability, 

scheduling, lodging and meals coordination, 

security, marketing, participant vetting, travel 

and funding are just a few of the logistical 

hurdles that the FLETC staff must address 

during the coordination of a SLLETS. 

The SLLETS, which runs from three to five 

days, is especially important because it addresses 

officers’ training needs by allowing them to 

select the training they need. If a SLLETS 

is conducted on a FLETC campus, SLRTT 

is able to pay for students’ meals and lodging 

as a part of the overall tuition cost; a great 

benefit for customers who come from agencies 

experiencing budgetary or resource challenges. 

To make the training even more valuable and 

relevant for state and local agencies, the SLRTT, 

in collaboration with our colleagues in the 

FLETC’s Centralized Training Management 

Directorate, State and Local Training 

Management Division, work with applicable 

state Peace Officer Standards and Training 

Commissions to obtain continuing education 

credits for customers who require them. 

In September 2012, the SLRTT held the first 

SLLETS ever hosted on a FLETC campus. 

More than 110 state, local, rural, tribal and 

territorial officers representing 30 states and 

six tribal nations gathered at the FLETC 

Glynco, Ga., campus to participate in the 

symposium. The SLRTT worked with several 

GTD training divisions to deliver a variety of 

training tracks, which students could select 

to attend. The Firearms Division provided 

the Survival Shooting Training Program; the 

Behavioral Science Division (BSD) delivered 

the Advanced Interviewing Training Program; 

the Enforcement Operations Division (EOD) 

conducted the Active Shooter/Threat Training 
12 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

Program; the Physical Techniques Division 

delivered the Law Enforcement Control Tactics 

Training Program; and the Driver and Marine 

Division provided the Operating Emergency 

Vehicles Training Program. One of the most 

important things the SLLETS highlighted was 

the strong cooperative spirit and teamwork 

displayed by training and support professionals 

across the FLETC to make the event a 

tremendous success. 

One officer said he was surprised the FLETC 

had so much to offer and was “blown-away” 

with the FLETC state-of-the-art facilities 

that are essential for law enforcement training. 

Another officer, a 27-year veteran, said it was 

the best training he’d taken in his long career 

and lamented that he didn’t have it much 

earlier. He added that the information and skills 

obtained during his training at the FLETC 

could be put to use immediately. A captain from 

a small, rural agency noted, “... in this economy, 

the first budget cuts always affect training 

money. The FLETC meets the void felt by the 

lack of training money and the imminent need 

to get my police officers high quality training.”

The attendees were not the only people who 

enjoyed and learned during the symposium. The 

FLETC instructors felt a renewed passion for 

their state and local training mission. Several 

EOD instructors commented on how captivated 

and engaged the students were with the training. 

They also said the students reciprocated by not 

only being great students, but also by teaching 

the instructors some new skills as well. A BSD 

instructor expressed tremendous satisfaction 

based on the bond he formed with the state 

and local officers. He stated that he was 

very impressed by how well the class worked 

together to polish their investigative skills and 

interviewing techniques.

The SLLETS is the program that brings 

together students and instructors from all 

walks of life and with diverse experiences 

and expertise. These large symposia create 

an environment where one can see come to 

life the law enforcement community’s sense 

of togetherness and camaraderie, and their 

collective dedication to the protection of their 

fellow citizen, communities and our homeland—

even at the cost of their own lives. It’s a real ‘give 

and take’ where instructors and students learn 

from one another, building strong professional 

and personal bonds. As written in Proverbs 

27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man 

sharpens another.”

We are proud to say that the SLLETS will 

be a part of our training offerings for a long 

time. The FLETC SLRTT has scheduled five 

symposiums in 2013 to be delivered in the 

following locations:

1. Artesia, N.M. (FLETC campus)

2. Charleston, S.C. (FLETC campus)

3. Glynco, Ga. (FLETC campus)

You can learn more about the SLLETS and 

other training opportunities by visiting www.

fletc.gov/osl. You also can send questions to 

stateandlocaltraining@dhs.gov or call 800-743-

5382, 24 hours per day.

State & Local Law Enforcement Training Symposium conducted at Artesia.
www.fletc.gov 13

By

Michael Robbs
14 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

Sending and receiving a text message results in the 

driver taking their eyes off the road on average 4.6 

seconds (at 55 mph – this is equivalent to the length 

of a football field). According to the Insurance 

Institute for Highway Safety, 10 states have banned 

hand-held use of cell phones and 35 states have 

banned texting outright.

So, how is distracted driving different for law 

enforcement (LE)? Today’s LE driver is tasked with 

numerous responsibilities which far exceed those 

of normal vehicle operators. We tell the civilian 

drivers to stay focused on their driving and not let 

themselves be distracted by personal 

issues, technological distractions 

and/or conversation with 

passengers. Conversely, we in law 

enforcement are faced with a 

dilemma. The very nature of 

our job puts the job tasks for 

driving on duty at a level 

well beyond that of any other 

motor vehicle operator.

 

When an officer or agent is 

required to run Code-3 (blue lights and 

siren) to a call such as a traffic accident 

with injuries or to assist an agent calling 

IN THE LINE OF DUTY: DISTRACTED DRIVING

Awakening from a self-induced state of “driver’s 

hypnosis,” I am suddenly aware I am driving through 

the intersection of McCallie Avenue and South 

Holtzclaw. Wow, I just drove three miles and really 

don’t remember anything about it! How many cars 

did I pass along the way; did I stop when I needed 

to stop; yield when I needed to yield; and did I miss 

any significant radio traffic from dispatch? We tell 

our students to “leave their personal concerns at 

home, our jobs are dangerous, complacency kills, we 

must be sharp and vigilant.” Of course, in reality, we 

are also human. 

In recent years, the deadly consequences of 

distracted driving in the United States has received 

much attention and public awareness resulting in 

most states establishing laws governing the use of 

cell phones while operating a motor vehicle. The 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 

(NHTSA) defines “distracted driving” as “any 

activity that could divert a person’s attention away 

from the primary task of driving.” This definition 

fits all drivers to include law enforcement. 

Significant examples of the impact of distracted 

driving in the United States include: 

• In 2009 - 5,474 people were killed involving 

driver distraction and 448,000 were injured. This 

equates to 16 percent of fatal crashes and 20 

percent of injury crashes.

• A driver has a 23 times greater risk of having a 

crash when they text.

• Driving while using the cell phone reduces 

the amount of brain activity (which should 

be used for driving) by 37 percent.

• In the month of June 2011, more than 

196 billion text messages were sent 

or received in the U.S., up nearly 50 

percent from June 2009.

• During any given hour of the day - 

800,000 vehicles are being driven by 

someone using a hand-held cell 

phone.

Interior view of a typical law enforcement cruiser clearly displays the extent 

and important role that technology plays, in the daily operations and duties 

of officers. 
www.fletc.gov 15

for help when serving an arrest warrant, a much 

greater level of required tasks is necessary. For such 

incidents the officer/agent is now responding to the 

scene of an incident in which they are required to 

expedite their response. During such times, their 

emotions, operational planning and distraction 

levels become factors in which they must contend. 

Other examples include responding to a burglary 

in progress, conducting a rolling surveillance or 

responding to a silent hold-up alarm. Such duties 

now require the officer/agent to communicate 

with other responders or team members and begin 

tactically planning their approach or routes via radio 

– all while expediting to the scene and exercising 

due-regard for other traffic and pedestrians using 

the roadway. LE driving tasks become even more 

complicated when you consider vehicle pursuits 

or responding to an officer-in-trouble call. At 

these levels of procedural responsibilities, the law 

enforcement officer or agent experiences the full 

force of visual, manual and cognitive tasks which can 

affect the safe and effective operations of a motor 

vehicle during the performance of their duty. Law 

Enforcement Driving is NOT Normal Driving! 

Driving is commonly divided into three areas of 

taskings to include visual, manual and cognitive. 

Using these categories’s the following are samples 

of distractions which have been identified as being 

required of a LE motor vehicle operator: 

Visual Distraction – LE officers and agents not only 

are required to safely negotiate thru traffic, obeying 

and observing traffic codes and regulations like that 

of any driver; but at the same time we must be on 

the top of our situational awareness game and are 

expected to identify: a visual summons from a citizen 

flagging you down for assistance, suspicious behavior 

of other drivers and pedestrians along the roadway, 

criminal activity, crimes in progress, traffic violations, 

expired vehicle tags, conduct static and rolling 

vehicle surveillance and to operate a vehicle during 

all weather and environmental conditions. 

Manual Distractions – The modern LE vehicle is 

most often equipped with additional technological 

devices to include police radio, blue lights and siren, 

take-down and alley lights, video cameras, radar, 

license plate reader, mobile data terminal (MDT), 

The very nature of LE jobs puts the job tasks for driving on duty at a level well 

beyond that of any other motor vehicle operator.

 

LE officers are required to be visually engaged with their surroundings for 

situational awareness. 

 

LE officers must operate a multitude of technological devices while operating 

a motor vehicle and responding to dispatches. 
16 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

global positioning system (GPS), flashlight and 

radio chargers and a long-gun mounting device. 

Additionally, we may be required to operate a variety 

of vehicle types to include sedan, high center of 

gravity vehicle (SUV), pick-up trucks, armored 

vehicle, etc. 

Cognitive Distractions – The LE vehicle operator is 

not only required to recognize and execute cognitive 

driving decisions as we safely negotiate thru traffic, 

obeying and observing traffic codes and regulations 

like that of any driver, but at the same time we are 

presented with greater levels of cognitive tasks as 

the result of the LE responsibilities which include 

recognizing and responding to dispatched Be On 

Look Out (BOLO’s), recognizing and responding to 

IN THE LINE OF DUTY: DISTRACTED DRIVING

dispatched calls, keeping up with the assignments of 

other officers or agents on duty so that you are able 

to respond to their location for assistance if needed, 

route planning to dispatched calls, tactical planning 

for the various types of calls you are responding 

to tactical planning with other officers or agents 

responding to the same call, exercise regard for 

other traffic/pedestrians when expediting to a call, 

emergency response (Code 3), emergency response 

(Non-Code 3), pursuit driving, and they must 

continually evaluate the legal justifications for their 

driving and tactics.

And then there are the consequences of stress and 

emotions: FEAR–ANGER-ADRENALINE.

Cognitive Distractions

Photo 1: The officer has just come over a hill cruising at 55 mph and approaches an intersection with a posted speed limit of 30 mph. The left-turn signal 

light is green and the main thoroughfare light is red. In the oncoming traffic turn lane, a silver sedan is proceeding to make a left turn directly in the path of the 

approaching officer and a pedestrian is entering the crosswalk on the officer’s right.

Photo 2: The officer is responding to a dispatched BOLO and is in pursuit of a vehicle involved in an accident, fleeing the scene and eluding officers. In regard 

to other traffic and pedestrians, the officer quickly glances at the oncoming intersection then diverts his attention to check his laptop for situation updates.

Photo 3: The officer’s normal cognitive judgment and decision making is clouded and renders him incapable of realistically assessing driving risks. In a mental 

state of target fixation, when the officer glanced briefly at the oncoming intersection before diverting his attention to the laptop, his mental assessment of the 

scene was inaccurate. The officer saw a green light and assumed that it was the main thoroughfare light. A stationary silver sedan, the 30 mph sign and the 

pedestrian on the crosswalk goes unnoticed. The scenario is set for potentially tragic consequences. 

Photo 1
www.fletc.gov 17

“Red Mist” is a term that has been used to describe 

the state of mind of drivers who are so determined 

to achieve some objective – catching the vehicle in 

front, getting to an accident in the shortest possible 

time – that they are no longer capable of realistically 

assessing driving risks. Their minds are not on 

driving but on some other goal: they have become 

emotionally and physiologically caught up in the 

incident. Another term sometimes used is ‘target 

fixation.’

Over the past 15 years, various government 

organizations and research universities have helped 

to document and bring to light the sobering 

statistics of LE-involved crashes. Line-of-duty 

deaths are the result of vehicle-related incidents 

more than any other cause. With this knowledge, 

various agencies have begun to research ways to 

reduce law enforcement crashes through a variety of 

means to include awareness campaigns such as the 

“Below 100” initiative, the use of driving simulators 

for helping to teach judgment and decision making, 

and more restrictive Code 3 emergency response and 

pursuit polices.

 

So what can trainers and agencies do in order to 

better prepare our officers and agents to be safe and 

effective drivers? 

The following is a list of measures which are being 

taken by many LE agencies and training centers to 

help reduce police-involved crashes: 

• Considering LE driver distractions - Review 

your agency’s Emergency Response and Pursuit 

policies – update if needed. Establish a policy 

of compliance and enforcement at all levels.

• Research your agency’s crash records for 

lessons learned. 

• Review your driver training curriculum for 

needed changes. Often LE driver/cultural 

attitudes are established at this level – both 

good and bad! Consider yearly driver-training 

re-qualifications, such as is done with firearms. 

• Consider training the Field Training Officers 

(FTOs) in order to have them reinforce the 

sound driving skills and attitudes taught in the 

academy.

• Balance your driving curriculum with judgment 

Photo 2 Photo 3
18 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

and decision making along with the skills of 

safe expeditious driving.

• Provide stress management training.

• Launch an awareness campaign – “Below 100” 

is a great place to start!

• Reward good drivers and don’t tolerate the bad 

ones! 

• LASTLY – share your success stories with 

others; we can make a difference!

The FLETC’s Driver and Marine Division 

(DMD) has recently embarked on a number of LE 

driver training-related initiatives which are being 

conducted in order for us to provide the most upto-date, sound LE driver program in the country.

• The DMD is working with FLETC Training 

Research Branch and the Evaluations and 

Analysis Branch to create a Law Enforcement 

Driver Task Analysis Survey to help identify 

the specific driving requirements of our Partner 

Organizations.

• In cooperation with our local FLETC Fleet 

Manager along with GSA Fleet Offices, the 

DMD is looking to capture non-fatal crash data 

(which is being largely over-looked) in order 

to help identify causes and trends which could 

help us identify areas for which training may 

help to reduce collisions. 

• To help address communication issues while 

delivering “instructor to student teaching” via 

the two-way radio, the DMD along with the 

Training Innovation Division is researching and 

testing alternative solutions to this problem. 

• In cooperation with the FLETC Media 

Support Division, the DMD has recently refilmed the Lines-of-Travel for all four of our 

Emergency Response courses. The utilization 

of new technologies will help to create a video 

project which is expected to help the student 

recognize the visual cues for reading the various 

types of turns and lines-of-travel. 

• The DMD is currently researching other 

successful and validated LE driver training 

programs for lessons learned. Two such 

agencies include the United Kingdom and the 

Royal Canadian Mounted Patrol driver training 

programs. 

In closing, the impact FLETC has had and 

continues to have on law enforcement driving 

around the country is mind boggling. A recent look 

at the graduate statistics dating back to 1975 for 

our Driver Instructor Training Program (DITP), 

now called the Law Enforcement Driver Instructor 

Training Program (LEDITP), shows that there 

have been approximately 3,195 total graduates from 

these two driver-instructor training programs. Of 

this number approximately 2,194 have been from 

state and local agencies. These numbers speak loud 

and strong - signifying the influence, impact and 

responsibility we have on law enforcement driver 

training around the nation. In response to this 

great responsibility, the staff and management 

of the DMD are committed to our Partner 

Organizations as well as to our state and local 

customers to ensure our driver training programs 

are current and provide our officers and agents with 

the knowledge, skills and abilities to be safe and 

effective LE drivers. 

Law Enforcement Driving Is Not Normal Driving! 

Resources and Useful Websites:

• www.nsc.org – National Safety Council

• www.nhtsa.gov – National Highway Traffic 

Safety Administration

• www.distraction.gov – (NHTSA)

• https://safety.army.mil – U.S. Army Combat 

Readiness Safety Center

• www.ODMP.org – Officer Down Memorial Page

Special thanks to the Glynn County Police Department for 

providing vehicles and staff for staging and photography 

in support of this article.

IN THE LINE OF DUTY: DISTRACTED DRIVING
A Match

19

Research shows memory retrieval 

techniques used in the cognitive interview 

process assist interviewees in sensory 

recall that can help them provide more 

information than in traditional interviews.

By Patricia Donovan

The Cognitive Interview Enhances 

the Five Step Law Enforcement 

Interview.
20 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1

When conducting interviews with individuals involved 

in crime, many law enforcement officers do not expect 

the entire truth. Whether it is omissions, lies, or refusal 

to agree to an interview, we have conditioned ourselves 

to have low expectations of those with whom the law 

enforcement community interacts when it comes to 

providing information. Depending on the situation, we 

may place too much value on partial information over no 

information at all. This point of view may be considered 

negative connotation on the part of law enforcement, but 

it can also be a rational observation and consideration. 

For example, witnesses may be less than truthful because 

they may fear retaliation or involvement in the criminal 

justice process; victims may have a trust issue with law 

enforcement professionals or have difficulty recalling 

facts due to emotional trauma; and with suspects, it’s 

obvious why their cooperation would be limited or nonexistent. Interpersonal communication skills of the law 

enforcement officer may persuade an unwilling individual 

to agree to an interview. But, what techniques and/or skill 

sets do we possess to make certain we are getting all of 

the information the interviewee is capable of providing? 

Law enforcement officers are charged with obtaining 

information in a legal, ethical manner and present the 

information gathered to criminal justice professionals 

who will ultimately make decisions that will affect 

the physical, mental and emotional freedom of those 

involved. The Federal Law Enforcement Training 

Centers’ (FLETC) Behavioral Science Division (BSD) 

mission is to provide law enforcement professionals 

with an understanding of human behavior that 

inspires interpersonal communication skills necessary 

to effectively protect and serve the American public. 

In order to accomplish this goal, the BSD routinely 

collaborates with leading psychologists and researchers in 

the field to identify the best evidence-based methods and 

techniques that will increase the quality and quantity of 

information received from human sources. Therefore, in 

addition to the skills necessary to persuade individuals to 

cooperate with law enforcement, the BSD is committed 

to providing knowledge of effective strategies and 

techniques that will produce information of quantitative 

and qualitative value from cooperative sources. 

One of the most important investigative techniques 

used by law enforcement is the law enforcement 

interview. The information gained from such interviews 

has the potential of being the most important aspect 

of a criminal or civil case. This information is generally 

obtained via a rapport-based interview with a victim, 

witness, and/or suspect during the process of a criminal 

investigation.

In the rapport-based interview, great focus is placed on 

the art of persuading an individual to cooperate with an 

investigation. As law enforcement officers and trainers, 

we must realize that when individuals are at the point 

of offering full cooperation with an investigation, it is 

COGNITIVE INTERVIEW

It is important for investigators to lay the foundation of expectations during 

a cognitive interview. The interviewee should provide as much detail as they 

can recall during a free flowing narrative to include “showing” investigators 

what occurred. In this example the witness is showing the interviewer how the 

subject was holding the weapon as she describes the incident in question.

When applicable sketching is a useful tool in the cognitive interview. During 

FLETC training students are encouraged to have victims, witnesses, and 

even subjects provide a sketch related to the information they are providing. 

Sketches also hold some promise in the ability to detect deception for law 

enforcement officers as discussed by Drs. Fisher and Meissner.
www.fletc.gov 21

actual video of a crime and law enforcement personnel 

were not conducting the interviews. Research conducted 

with the BSD addressed these concerns by using 

witnesses of an actual event, professional law enforcement 

interviewers and utilizing a proven comparison interview 

method, the Five Step Law Enforcement Interview, as 

taught by the BSD at FLETC.

Dr. Ronald Fisher, professor of psychology at FIU, 

editor-in-chief of the Journal of Applied Research in 

Memory and Cognition, and codeveloper of the CI 

Technique, provided a group of BSD instructors with 

specialized training in structured cognitive interviewing. 

Those instructors then interviewed “witnesses” using 

both conventional law enforcement and cognitive 

methods. Video recordings of those interviews were 

provided to Dr. Fisher’s research team for transcription, 

coding and analysis to determine if there is a difference 

in the quantity and quality of information provided by 

“witnesses” based on the interview technique employed.

 In September 2012, the BSD hosted the 2012 

Psychology Working Group where academic experts were 

invited to present research data and discuss the validity 

and the effectiveness of the cognitive interview method 

and cognitive-based interviewing techniques for law 

enforcement. Also discussed were the findings associated 

with the recent research project at FLETC. The panel 

of guests consisted of Dr. Christian Meissner, professor 

of psychology and criminal justice at the University of 

Texas at El Paso and director of the Center for Law and 

Human Behavior; Dr. Sujeeta Bhatt, research scientist 

at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and detailed 

to the FBI, HIG; Jillian Rivard, doctoral student of legal 

psychology and instructor at FIU; and Dr. Fisher, who 

revealed preliminary findings of the FLETC-BSD/FIU 

research project. Participants in the discussions included 

the BSD instructional staff and representatives of 

FLETC Partner Organizations.

Preliminary findings indicate that the CI elicited 

approximately 70 percent more information than that of 

the Five Step Law Enforcement Interview (more than 

300 idea units versus less than 200 idea units). PostExperiment Survey of Interviewers indicate that the CI 

is less cognitively demanding than (or equivalent to) the 

paramount to implement effective techniques that will 

maximize the information elicited. Surveys indicate that 

many police officers receive only minimal training to 

interview cooperative witnesses. The Cognitive Interview 

(CI), developed by Dr. Ronald Fisher and Dr. R. Edward 

Geisman, is a systematic approach to interviewing 

cooperative witnesses in order to increase the amount of 

information elicited. It is based on scientific principles of 

memory and communication and also on careful analysis 

of police interviews with witnesses. 

In April 2012, the FLETC BSD partnered with the 

Florida International University (FIU) and Dr. Ronald 

Fisher through a Cooperative Research and Development 

Agreement (CRADA) to conduct a research project 

comparing the effectiveness of conventional law 

enforcement and cognitive interviews. The results of 

this research were intended to support the FLETC 

interview curriculum, and the law enforcement and 

intelligence community to include the Federal Bureau of 

Investigation (FBI)’s High Value Detainee Interrogation 

Group (HIG). Previous CI research consisted of 

participants watching a video and being interviewed 

with CI versus other interviewing techniques. A majority 

of the participants were college students, and the 

interviewers were research assistants. However, there was 

some criticism and concern regarding the artificiality of 

the video, participants and interviewers since it wasn’t an 

The various cognitive interviewing techniques for law enforcement officers and 

criminal investigators that enhance the Five Step Law Enforcement Interview 

method include explaining and defining the roles of the interviewer and the 

interviewee; refraining from interruptions; strategic utilization of open- and 

closed-ended questions; emphasizing free recall; the utilization of diagrams 

and sketches and the cognitive load approach to detecting deception.
22 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1

The FLETC BSD partnered with the Florida International University (FIU) and 

Dr. Ronald Fisher (pictured above) through a Cooperative Research and 

Development Agreement (CRADA) to conduct a research project comparing 

the effectiveness of conventional law enforcement and cognitive interviews. In 

September 2012, Fisher presented his research findings to the FLETC staff.

COGNITIVE INTERVIEW

Five Step Law Enforcement Interview. Also, interviewers 

reported no foreseeable barriers to implementing the 

CI in the field and felt it would be most useful when 

interviewing victims or cooperative witnesses. The 

most useful techniques reported were allowing for 

long pauses, not interrupting and sketching. Future 

analyses of data will include accuracy (corroboration) of 

information obtained, relevance, time delay (retention 

interval), adherence to protocol and further analysis of 

the post-experimental survey. Although the Five Step 

Law Enforcement Interview (the primary interviewing 

method currently taught at FLETC) was perceived by 

academic experts, researchers, and BSD instructional staff 

as effective, the approach could be greatly enhanced by 

implementing more cognitive-based interview techniques.

Although the CI is intended to be used with 

cooperative witnesses, Dr. Christian Meissner and 

other members of the HIG have conducted research 

on using cognitive-based interviewing techniques to 

detect deception. One such technique is the cognitive 

load approach. The cognitive load approach relies on 

the selectiveness of attention and the limitations of 

short term of memory. People can only absorb so much 

information at a time, and can only process a portion of 

the information absorbed. By increasing the cognitive 

load, mental effort is increased, and the task’s performance 

decreases. Using the cognitive load approach along with 

traditional verbal and non-verbal cues to deception can 

be an extremely valuable tool for interviewers.

The science put forth regarding the CI compliments 

the existing BSD curriculum. Although similarities like 

rapport and open-ended questions exist, differences are 

notable. For example, the role of the interviewer and 

the interviewee are different in the CI. A great deal 

more focus is placed on open-ended questions in the 

CI, and cues are used to recall or activate a memory 

in the CI. As a result of ongoing discussions and the 

relationships with academic experts, and the preliminary 

research findings by Fisher regarding the FLETCBSD/FIU research project, the BSD is currently in the 

process of including various cognitive techniques into 

interviewing for law enforcement officers and criminal 

investigators lesson plans. The techniques determined 

to enhance the Five Step Law Enforcement Interview 

method include setting high expectations of the 

interviewee by explaining and defining the roles of the 

interviewer and the interviewee (research has established 

people will provide more information based on the 

perceived expectation of the individual who requests the 

information, and it is the interviewer’s job to make the 

expectations clear); totally refraining from interruptions; 

strategic utilization of open- and closed-ended 

questions; emphasizing free recall; the utilization of 

diagrams and sketches and the cognitive load approach 

to detecting deception.

In order to achieve the goal of gathering reliable 

investigative information from human sources, which 

will likely become testimonial evidence in a court of 

law, we should arm law enforcement trainees with the 

most effective interviewing techniques to ensure that 

the information sought is maximized. The relationships 

developed between FLETC/BSD and academic experts 

have become a valuable asset in attaining the FLETC/

BSD mission. We must remain on the cutting edge of 

valid, reliable methods of eliciting truthful information. 

Through the continued collaboration of practitioners and 

academia, adding validity to research by participating 

in projects, and implementing evidence-based methods 

and techniques into the curriculum, we will continue 

to provide trainees with the necessary skill sets to 

accomplish our mission.
The horrific events of September 11, 2001, 

ushered in tremendous change for the public safety 

community. When the Department of Homeland 

Security (DHS) was established in 2003 to coordinate 

and unify homeland security efforts, law enforcement 

was recognized as a vital component in our nation’s 

comprehensive strategy to confront threats. Since 

1970, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers 

(FLETC) have provided basic and advanced training 

to federal, state, local, rural, tribal and international 

law enforcement officers. With decades of experience 

meeting the needs of multiple law enforcement 

communities, FLETC was poised to embrace a 

broadened mission as part of DHS. The post-9/11 

landscape is more complex than ever before, and 

we knew we had to evolve to provide the very best 

preparation against a new kind of enemy in a rapidly 

changing world. 

Over the past decade, we have witnessed 

tremendous growth and change here at FLETC. Our 

nation’s invigorated focus on fighting terrorism around 

the globe and in our own backyard created a demand 

for law enforcement training beyond what FLETC 

had ever experienced. Since 2001, our federal partner 

agencies have grown from 76 to 91; our footprints 

in the state, local and international law enforcement 

communities have expanded substantially; and our 

annual student throughput has nearly tripled to more 

than 70,000 students. During fiscal year (FY) 2012, 

we reached our one millionth student trained. 

www.fletc.gov 23

By Connie Patrick and Jennifer Tocco

Continued on page 26

New York, N.Y. (Sept. 15, 2001) -- A tired search dog finds time to rest as rescue 

efforts at the World Trade Center in New York City continue just a few feet away. 

U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 1st Class Preston Keres.
24 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, WAS THE DAY THAT 

BROKE OUR HEARTS, BUT NOT OUR 

RESOLVE. THE HORRIFIC EVENTS OF THAT 

DAY USHERED IN TREMENDOUS CHANGE 

FOR THE NATION.

IN SEPTEMBER 2

UNITED STATES 

ACTIVITIES IN FL

DURING THE DED

FLETC-CHELTENHAM 

ITS “NUMBER 1” CO

PRIORITY, COMPLET

REHABILITATION PR

31, THE PERMANENT 

UNITED STATES CAP

TRAINING ACADEMY 

IN JUNE 2006, DHS SECRETARY 

CHERTOFF SWEARS IN FORMER 

FLETC DIRECTOR, RALPH BASHAM 

AS CBP COMMISSIONER DURING A 

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO FLETCARTESIA.

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH 

ADDRESSES DIGNITARIES, STAFF AND 

STUDENTS DURING HIS VISIT TO FLETCGLYNCO, MAY 29, 2007.

ON SEPT. 11, TERRORISTS HIJACKED 

FOUR AIRCRAFT; CRASHING TWO INTO 

THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, ONE INTO 

THE PENTAGON AND ANOTHER INTO A 

FIELD IN PENNSYLVANIA.

PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS 

LEGISLATION CREATING CABINETLEVEL DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY.

ON MARCH 19, PRESIDENT GEORGE 

W. BUSH AUTHORIZED AN ATTACK TO 

TRY AND KILL SADDAM HUSSEIN AND 

HIS TOP AIDS, LAUNCHING THE U.S. 

OFFENSIVE AGAINST IRAQ.

ON AUGUST 29, HURRICANE KATRINA, 

A CATEGORY FOUR STORM, STRUCK 

THE GULF COAST NEAR THE MOUTH 

OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS A LAW 

RENEWING THE PATRIOT ACT.

DEMOCRAT NANCY PELOSI BECOMES 

THE FIRST WOMAN SPEAKER OF THE 

HOUSE AND WILL PRESIDE OVER THE 

100TH CONGRESS. 

THE GOVERNME

INTERVENE IN TH

SYSTEM TO AVOI

GEORGE W. BUSH DEFEATS 

JOHN KERRY AND IS REELECTED 

PRESIDENT.

IN 2004, FLETC ASSUMED CONTROL 

OVER PROPERTY LOCATED IN CHARLESTON, SC. THE NEW ACQUISITION 

BECOMES FLETC, CHARLESTON OPERATIONS PROVIDING BASIC AND 

ADVANCED MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT & SECURITY TRAINING. 

IN 2010, 

REITEM

AGREE

TRANS

ON MARCH 17, 2010, DHS SECRETARY 

NAPOLITANO ADDRESSES DIGNITARIES, 

STAFF AND STUDENTS DURING HER VISIT 

TO THE FLETC-GLYNCO.

IN 2008, FLETC-ARTESIA CELEBRATED ITS 

20TH ANNIVERSARY. THE FLETC FACILITY 

WAS RENAMED THE “PETE V. DOMENICI 

TRAINING COMPLEX.”

IN 2007, DIR

40,000 SQU

WITH A UN

EXERCISES 

IN 2003, FLETC TRAINED ITS FIRST STUDENTS IN CHELTENHAM, MD. AND 

PROVIDES IN-SERVICE AND REQUALIFICATION TRAINING FOR THOUSANDS OF 

OFFICERS AND AGENTS WORKING IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA ANNUALLY. 

ON MAY 2, 2005, VICE PRESIDENT RICHARD CHENEY AND DHS 

SECRETARY MICHAEL CHERTOFF VISIT THE FLETC-GLYNCO.

IN JUNE 2006, DIRECTOR CONNIE PATRICK CUTS THE RIBBON TO DEDICATE 

THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED COMBINED SKILLS 

TRAINING RANGE AT FLETC-GLYNCO.

IN 2008, THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION COUNTERTERRORISM OPERATIONS TRAINING 

FACILITY (PA/CTOTF) WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED. DURING THE CEREMONY, DIRECTOR 

PATRICK AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS PAUSED FOR A RESPECTFUL MOMENT OF 

SILENCE AT THE FLETC 9/11 MEMORIAL HOUSED WITHIN THE COMPLEX.

IN 2002, THE U.S. CUSTOMS MOCK PORT OF ENTRY TRAINING FACILITY 

OPENS AT FLETC-GLYNCO. 

IN 2002, FLETC LED THE EFFORT 

TO DEVELOP AN INDEPENDENT 

ACCREDITATION PROCESS FOR 

FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT 

TRAINING. 

FEDERAL AIR MARSHALS’ PRACTICAL 

TRAINING EXERCISE AT THE FLETCARTESIA.

TACTICAL TRAINING AT

FLETC-CHELTENHAM.

COINCIDING MAJOR EVENTS 

PICTOGRAPHIC 

FLETC ACHIEVEM

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20
www.fletc.gov 25

2004, THE 

 BORDER PATROL CONSOLIDATED ALL OF ITS TRAINING 

LETC-ARTESIA. SENATOR PETE DOMENICI GIVES A SPEECH 

DICATION.

M ACCOMPLISHED 

NSTRUCTION 

TING THE $3.6 MILLION 

ROJECT FOR BUILDING 

T HOME FOR THE 

PITOL POLICE 

Y IN SEPT. 2002.

BARRACK OBAMA TAKES OATH 

OF OFFICE FROM CHIEF JUSTICE 

ROBERTS ON JAN. 20, AS WIFE 

MICHELLE HOLDS THE HISTORIC 

LINCOLN BIBLE.

THE SENATE APPROVES THE 

NOMINATION OF SONIA SOTOMAYOR 

TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. SHE’S 

THE FIRST HISPANIC SUPREME COURT 

JUSTICE TO SERVE ON THE COURT. 

AUGUST 7, ELANA KAGAN WAS 

SWORN IN AS A SUPREME COURT 

JUSTICE, MAKING HER THE FOURTH 

WOMAN JUSTICE.

U.S. COMBAT MISSION, OPERATION 

IRAQI FREEDOM, OFFICIALLY ENDS 

ON AUGUST 31.

ARIZONA REPRESENTATIVE 

GABRIELLE GIFFORDS IS AMONG 17 

SHOT BY A GUNMAN WHO OPENED 

FIRE ON THE CONGRESSWOMAN’S 

CONSTITUENT MEETING OUTSIDE A 

LOCAL STORE.

OCT. 29: HURRICANE SANDY MAKES 

LANDFALL IN ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. 

NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, AND 

CONNECTICUT ARE HARDEST HIT.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, NATIONAL ARCHIVES, NASA, DOD, FBI, FLETC AND WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHIC OFFICES

APRIL 15: TERROR SUSPECTS 

TAMERLAN AND DZHOKHAR TSARNAEV 

ARE BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE 

FOR TWO DEADLY BOMB BLASTS WHICH 

TURNED THE 117TH BOSTON MARATHON 

INTO A HORRIFIC TRAGEDY. 

NT BEGINS TO 

HE U.S. FINANCIAL 

ID A CRISIS. 

IN MARCH OF 2003, THE FLETC 

OFFICIALLY BECOMES A BUREAU WITHIN 

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND

SECURITY WHEN NEWLY APPOINTED DHS 

SECRETARY TOM RIDGE ADDRESSES 

GUESTS AT THE TRANSFER OF 

AUTHORITY CEREMONY.

DHS SECRETARY TOM RIDGE AND DIRECTOR 

PATRICK ADDRESS THE FACILITY, STAFF 

AND STUDENTS DURING A VISIT TO FLETCARTESIA ON APRIL 20, 2004.

DURING A VISIT TO FLETC, U.S. SENATOR 

SAXBY CHAMBLISS, R-GA, ENJOYS 

TESTING HIS SKILLS ON THE DRIVING 

SIMULATOR.

, DEPUTY DIRECTOR KEENE AND LTC 

MEYER SIGN THE OPERATION WARFIGHTER 

EMENT TO ASSIST WOUNDED WARRIORS 

ITION INTO THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE.

FEDERAL FLIGHT DECK OFFICER TRAINING 

AND DEFENSIVE TACTICS.

FLETC INSTRUCTOR (ON RIGHT) 

OBSERVES AS STUDENTS PERFORM HIGH 

RISK STOP PROCEDURES.

THE MENACING “REDMAN” 

IS USED IN SELF-DEFENSE 

TECHNIQUES TRAINING.

FORMER SECRETARY TOM RIDGE VISITS 

THE FLETC-GLYNCO IN 2004.

FLETC-ARTESIA DRIVING COURSE. 

“WET” SKIDPANS WITH 727 AIRCRAFT IN 

THE BACKGROUND.

EVERY YEAR FLETC HONORS THOSE 

GRADUATES WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE 

SACRIFICE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF 

THEIR DUTY. THEIR NAMES ARE FOREVER 

ENSHRINED ON THE FLETC MEMORIAL.

IN 2003 ,THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY IN GABORONE, BOTSWANA OPENED 

THE BEAUTIFUL INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY.

RECTOR PATRICK AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR KEENE OPEN A NEW 

UARE FOOT SIMULATION LABORATORY TO PROVIDED STUDENTS 

IQUE VENUE FOR TABLETOP AND COMPUTER-BASED SIMULATION 

S AT FLETC-GLYNCO.

A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED 35+ ACRE URBAN/SUBURBAN TRAINING FACILITY IS 

SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN LATE 2013. THE FACILITY WILL FEATURE REPLICAS OF 

COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL TRAINING ENVIRONMENTS TO PROVIDE TRAINEES 

ACCESS TO VENUES THAT MIMIC THOSE THEY WILL CONFRONT IN THE FIELD.

IN 2011, FLETC CELEBRATED THE DEDICATION OF THE INTERMODAL TRAINING FACILITY, 

WHICH INCLUDES A SUBWAY SYSTEM, TRAIN STATION, INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND BUS 

TERMINAL COMPLETE WITH TICKET COUNTERS, FOOD COURT AND WAITING AREAS USED 

FOR SCENARIO-BASED TRAINING.

THE ORIGINAL DHS SEAL 

PROTOTYPE USED TEMPORARILY 

UNTIL THE CURRENT DESIGN WAS 

IMPLEMENTED.

 IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

C TIMELINE OF

MENTS SINCE 9/11

008 2009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2012 2013
26 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

But the statistics tell only a small part of the story. 

The transition to DHS occasioned a refocusing of 

many FLETC training programs and the creation 

of new ones to meet emerging needs, such as anti/

counter-terrorism, flying armed, intelligence 

awareness and critical infrastructure protection. The 

rapid advancement of technology and the borderless 

nature of many crimes highlighted a need for 

enhanced training in technical areas like computer 

forensics, cyber investigations and financial fraud. The 

recognition that terrorism can occur anywhere and at 

any time led to a rural training initiative that ensures 

officers working in the most remote areas have access 

to critical training. As the law enforcement arena 

becomes increasingly complex, we remain vigilant 

of emerging training needs, with recent program 

development in areas such as human trafficking, 

drug-endangered children and countering violent 

extremism. Hand in hand with ensuring the relevancy 

and currency of our training, FLETC led the effort 

to develop an independent accreditation process for 

federal law enforcement training in 2002. A task 

force consisting of key training leaders from federal 

and state law enforcement agencies collaboratively 

conducted research to establish a premier training 

accreditation model that has served to increase the 

professionalism of law enforcement training.

As training demands increased and changed in the 

post-9/11 homeland security environment, FLETC 

grew from two domestic training sites to four. In 2003 

we trained our first students in Cheltenham, Md., 

where we now provide in-service and requalification 

training for thousands of officers and agents working 

in the Washington, D.C. area annually. In 2004, 

FLETC opened its location in Charleston, S.C., 

where we conduct basic and advanced maritime law 

enforcement and security training. During the past 

decade, FLETC’s Artesia operations expanded to 

include training for Federal Air Marshals and Federal 

Flight Deck Officers and the entire Border Patrol 

Academy moved to Artesia.

Beyond increasing our training capacity, over the 

past decade FLETC has built new state-of-the-art 

facilities to provide realistic training experiences 

for law enforcement officers confronting a changed 

world. In 2004, in coordination with our Partner 

Organizations, we initiated development of the 

Practical Application Counterterrorism Operations 

Training Facility (PA/CTOTF), with construction 

of a training site consisting of a hotel, tactical area 

and courtroom/detention center. These “classrooms” 

enable students to participate in realistic scenarios in 

topics such as active shooter, room-clearing, prisoner 

intake and courtroom procedures. Beginning in 2007, 

a new 40,000-square-foot Simulation Laboratory 

provided students with a unique venue for tabletop 

and computer-based simulation exercises. A year later 

we opened our Technical Operations Training Facility, 

where trainees work with sophisticated surveillance, 

tracking and photography equipment. In 2011, we 

celebrated the dedication of the Intermodal Training 

26 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

FLETC-Cheltenham provides in-service and requalification training for thousands 

of officers and agents working in the Washington, D.C. area annually.

The Practical Application Counterterrorism Operations Training Facility (PA/

CTOTF) consists of a hotel, tactical area, courtroom and detention center. 

FLETC ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 9/11 (Continued from page 23)
www.fletc.gov 27

Facility, another phase of the PA/CTOTF, which 

includes a subway system, train station, international 

airport and bus terminal complete with ticket 

counters, food court and waiting areas where frontline 

law enforcement personnel experience scenario-based 

training to better deter and combat threats across 

major transportation modes. As we look to the future, 

we are completing construction of a 35+ acre Urban/

Suburban Training Facility (Danis City), the final 

phase of the PA/CTOTF, which will feature replicas 

of commercial and residential training environments 

such as a café, pawn shop, police station, tavern, 

storage facility, mobile home park, apartments, 

medical facilities and government offices, providing 

trainees access to venues that mimic those they will 

confront in the field. 

The FLETC mission very purposefully includes all 

those who protect our homeland, and the criticality 

of interoperability has become paramount in the 

post-9/11 law enforcement profession. Consequently, 

FLETC has further integrated our state, local, 

rural, tribal and international partners into our 

training activities. Working cooperatively with 

entities like the DHS Office for State and Local 

Law Enforcement (OSLLE), the International 

Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National 

Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) and the International 

Association of Directors of Law Enforcement 

Standards and Training (IADLEST), FLETC 

reaches an audience of thousands of state and local 

officers each year, providing training in topics like 

intelligence-led policing, suspicious activity reporting, 

disaster mitigation and domestic violence in tribal 

communities. As we face new threats and globalized 

criminal activity, we have expanded our worldwide 

reach through participation in the International 

Law Enforcement Academies in Hungary, Thailand, 

Botswana and El Salvador and through engagement 

with groups like INTERPOL’s International Group 

of Expert Police Trainers and the DHS Office of 

International Affairs (OIA). To ensure FLETC’s 

training expertise is shared during the development 

of critical Departmental programs and initiatives, 

and to advance FLETC’s brand as the leader in 

law enforcement training, we now have three staff 

members assigned to DHS Headquarters, specifically 

in the Office of the Secretary, the OIA and the 

OSLLE, where they provide training leadership in 

areas of strategic importance to the Department and 

nation.

The growing complexity of the law enforcement 

environment has highlighted the importance of 

proactively identifying new technologies to enhance 

training. During the past decade we have integrated 

advanced simulators into firearms, driver, maritime 

and interview training, providing students with 

realistic training scenarios. For example, FLETC 

students now have access to the Avatar Based 

Interview Simulator which permits free-flowing 

conversation utilizing speech recognition and a virtual 

avatar to create an interactive training experience. 

www.fletc.gov 27

The Intermodal Training Facility includes a subway system, train station, 

international airport and bus terminal complete with ticket counters, food court 

and waiting area.

The Avatar Based Interview Simulator permits free-flowing conversation utilizing 

speech recognition and a virtual avatar to create an interactive training experience.
2828 FLETC FLETCJJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

We have adopted the After Action Review System 

for use in situational training complexes, providing 

instructors and students with an unparalleled ability 

to record and review student performance during high 

stress and complex tactical training. In line with the 

growing presence of distance learning in education 

and professional development, FLETC is building 

its own library of online courses available through a 

web-based portal to students 24 hours a day, seven 

days a week. These and other innovations are needed 

to connect with new generations of students who 

only know a world where technology is omnipresent. 

FLETC looks very different than it did only 10 

years ago, as we aim to ensure our students are more 

prepared than ever before. 

As criminal and terrorist threats evolve, law 

enforcement trainers must remain at the forefront 

of research to ensure our programs remain on the 

cutting edge. In partnership with academic, private, 

international and military organizations, FLETC 

has participated in a wide range of research projects 

over the past decade in topics such as cognitive 

interviewing, cyber forensics, simulations, crime scene 

investigations, and the relationship between highstress training scenarios and officer preparedness. 

Another recent FLETC study demonstrates 

great promise in the use of laser-adapted firearms 

in conjunction with live-fire weapons in basic 

marksmanship instruction. During the past year, 

FLETC collaborated with the Drug Enforcement 

Administration (DEA) and the IADLEST on 

research aimed at reducing the frequency of accidental 

shooting of law enforcement officers by other officers 

due to mistaken identity. The ultimate objective 

of this project is to develop model policies, tactics 

and training interventions that can help prevent 

tragic “blue-on-blue” or “friendly fire” fatalities. We 

look forward to using research like this to continue 

enhancing our training. 

FLETC was founded in 1970 on the premise 

that consolidated federal law enforcement training 

provides consistency and efficiency in the preparation 

of law enforcement officers and agents while enabling 

agencies to continue conducting specialized training 

unique to their missions. During the decade since 

the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FLETC has expanded 

its capacity, diversified its training programs, 

grown its physical infrastructure, adopted the most 

contemporary technologies and engaged in cuttingedge training research. Despite these significant 

changes, the basic framework set forth over 40 years 

ago remains effective in meeting the evolving needs of 

federal, state, local, rural, tribal and international law 

enforcement officers and agents. Consolidated training 

is still the right formula for providing training that is 

relevant, cost-effective and of the highest quality.

All of us remember where we were on September 

11, 2001, and few of us will ever be quite the same. 

Likewise, the law enforcement profession has changed 

forever, and it continues to grow in complexity. As 

trainers it is our mission and passion to provide our 

law enforcement officers with the tools they need to 

prevent and combat criminal and terrorist activity. 

FLETC remains committed to constantly looking 

ahead to ensure readiness for those who risk their lives 

to protect our communities.

(Staged Photo) FLETC collaborated with the Drug Enforcement Administration 

(DEA) and the IADLEST to develop model policies, tactics and training interventions 

that can help prevent tragic “blue-on-blue” or “friendly fire” fatalities.

FLETC ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 9/11
www.fletc.gov 29

My first exposure to the personal computer was 

when I started working at the U.S. Army CID 

office at Fort Sill, Okla., in early 1989. When I 

started, the office consisted of about 30 criminal 

investigators and two administrative personnel 

who were responsible for transcribing mini-audio 

cassette recordings onto paper investigative reports. 

They accomplished this on Wang computer systems 

which pre-dated IBM personal computers. In 

many law enforcement organizations, by the mid90s, most of the word processing centers had 

been replaced by personal computers, with many 

investigators now tasked with the responsibility of 

typing their own reports.

By John Riley

This is not the only area where computers would 

become a part of the law enforcement mission. 

With the proliferation of computers being used, 

both in the work place and at home, we were seeing 

computers more and more being seized as evidence. 

Initially the handling of the computers and cellular 

phones as evidence was problematic. Software 

and hardware tools had to be developed for law 

enforcement to facilitate the proper handling of 

computer evidence.

Initially the software tools were commandline tools that were difficult to use for most law 

enforcement officers. What that meant was that 

when computers and/or cell phones were seized as

It was not all that long ago that law enforcement first responders arriving at the 

scene of a crime had little or no interest in the potential for evidence being stored 

on a computer. When I started working in law enforcement in 1989, computers 

had not yet replaced the typewriter in most offices as the word processer of 

choice. The Internet and e-mail had not yet become commercialized, and people 

still did their shopping in person, with the exception of those using the Sears and 

Roebuck catalog.

www.fletc.gov 29
30 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

Evidence Recovery Specialist Training Program 

(SCERS), Mobile Device Investigations Program 

(MDIP), Computer Network Investigation Training 

Program (CNITP) and the Macintosh Forensic 

Training Program (MFTP).

As part of the curriculum for the above listed 

programs, students are exposed to a variety of software 

and hardware tools that are available to assist them 

with the proper handling of digital storage devices 

which had been seized as evidence. As technology has 

advanced exponentially in recent years, software and 

hardware tool development has become increasingly 

more user friendly for law enforcement first 

responders. This ever-constant evolutionary process of 

new tool versions being introduced, often faster than 

our TOD instructors can keep up with, has produced 

many viable tools that first responders can use at the 

scene.

One tool that presently is being taught by TOD 

is the Windows Forensic Environment, also 

known as Windows FE or WinFE for short. This 

modified version of the Windows 7 pre-installation 

environment or Windows PE is a reduced version 

of the full Windows operating system. Troy Larson, 

an employee of Microsoft, made available his 

modifications to the Windows registry that would 

allow for a forensically sound version of Windows 

PE which he called Windows FE. Larson posted 

evidence, they were normally forwarded to a forensic 

laboratory where specially trained examiners would 

analyze the digital storage media. These experts could 

then provide expert testimony, as needed, based on 

their findings. This process in many ways mirrored 

that of other types of evidence, such as firearms 

and latent prints, already being handled in a similar 

manner.

As these new tools for law enforcement have 

been developed, it has resulted in an increased need 

for specially trained personnel who are capable of 

properly dealing with this evidence. First responders 

require training on the identification, preservation, 

collection and transportation of digital media. 

Students attending the Criminal Investigator Training 

Program (CITP) today are receiving this training, 

which includes both hands-on laboratories and a 

practical exercise where they are handling digital 

evidence at the crime scene.

The Technical Operations Division (TOD) is 

offering advanced training to law enforcement officers 

in a variety of methods utilized for the proper seizure, 

forensic imaging and analysis of personal computers, 

cellular phones, Macintosh computers, tablets and 

network devices. The following are the titles for those 

courses: Digital Evidence Acquisition Specialist 

Training Program (DEASTP), Introduction to 

Digital Evidence Analysis (IDEA), Seized Computer 

DIGITAL FORENSIC TOOLS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

Screen shot of the Windows Forensic Environment, also known as Windows 

FE or WinFE.

A CNITP student uses Windows Forensic Environment to conduct a preview 

and prepare a forensic copy of a Windows server.
www.fletc.gov 31

the information about his registry modifications 

to the Microsoft Law Enforcement Portal which 

is restricted to law enforcement personnel. Colin 

Ramsden, who currently is serving as a Forensic 

Computing Analyst in the British Army’s Royal 

Military Police (RMP), utilized Larson’s registry 

modifications and created a Graphical User Interface 

(GUI) tool to run in the WinFE environment.

Before adopting the WinFE environment, I looked 

at a few other versions of Windows PE that had been 

modified for computer forensic purposes. SAFE, 

a commercially-distributed version of Windows 

PE from ForensicSoft, is a tool that provided an 

environment for hard disk imaging conducted in 

a forensically sound manner. As SAFE did not 

include any software for forensic imaging, I spent 

time researching this tool, subsequently creating a 

modified version which includes multiple software 

tools that we teach in our advanced training. These 

tools include EnCase forensic software from 

Guidance Software and the Forensic Tool Kit (FTK) 

Imager utility from AccessData. 

In support of the software testing, Director Luke 

Erickson, a special agent with the Office of the 

Inspector General (OIG) for Health and Human 

Services (HHS), Digital Investigations Unit, agreed 

to field test this software tool. Based on an ongoing 

investigation, Erickson agreed to test SAFE during a 

scheduled search warrant. The following is an excerpt 

from an e-mail he sent based on his use of this tool: 

“During our visit John was able to share a new 

innovative product for imaging windows based servers. 

This product returned a victory for my team during a 

search involving 53 defendants (498-count indictment) 

last month in Philadelphia, Pa. Our team tried several 

different known options to image a critical server hosting 

a case specific database and it was John’s innovative 

solution that worked!”

Another significant change in the handling of 

digital evidence is taking place during the process 

of making forensic copies of hard disks and other 

digital storage devices. Until just recently, TOD was 

issuing a computer with media write-blockers to 

the students attending the DEASTP to accomplish 

forensic imaging of hard disks in the field or in a 

lab environment. Beginning in FY 2013, DEASTP 

students will be issued a TD2 handheld forensic hard 

disk imager from Tableau which takes the computer 

out of the equation. This device, with one input port 

and two output ports, allows for the creation of a 

forensic image of a hard disk, with the potential for 

an analysis copy and an evidence storage copy, being 

created simultaneously. 

Technology is changing every day and law 

enforcement is often not equipped to properly handle 

digital evidence. In addition to the tools mentioned 

above, the instructors within the TOD have spent 

countless hours testing digital forensic hardware and 

software solutions to identify those tools that could 

best support first responders and digital forensic 

specialists in the field. It is their never ending goal to 

provide law enforcement personnel with the tools of 

tomorrow, today.

The TD2 handheld hard disk imager shown preparing a forensic copy of the 

suspect hard disk on the left and sending two copies to the connected hard 

disks on the right.

The above media write-blocker ‘Ultrakit’ from Tableau is shown with the 

handheld TD2 hard disk imager. This is the configuration presently being 

issued to students who attend the DEASTP.
32 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

The success of an investigation is often 

determined by how quickly law enforcement is 

able to respond to and conduct the preliminary 

investigation. I have often heard it said that 

the first 24 hours is the most critical time in an 

investigation, and that the likelihood of successfully 

solving the crime can decrease exponentially 

thereafter.

With the proliferation of digital evidence being 

found at the crime scene, some might think that 

once you have possession of the digital storage 

device, that you now have preserved that evidence 

for future examination. Keeping in mind that the 

law is changing from day to day concerning digital 

evidence retention, the fact is that there is likely 

going to be a limitation to how long you have 

to complete an examination. Additionally, hard 

disks do have a shelf life and attempts to access 

information on a hard disk, even two or three years 

after its seizure, can provide less than optimal 

results.

Another concern is the staleness of the 

evidence. Waiting months or even sometimes 

more than a year for a laboratory examination to 

be completed might result in evidence that would 

not be accepted by the court for the purpose of 

conducting additional searches. In more critical 

situations the need to obtain evidence immediately, 

due to exigent circumstances, has resulted in an 

identified need to have tools that can be deployed 

on scene to conduct a preliminary review of a 

digital storage device.

Instructors within the FLETC Technical 

Operations Division (TOD) are routinely testing 

new hardware and software tools that can assist 

law enforcement in dealing with digital media 

at the scene. The software tool ImageScan, 

which was developed by the FBI, is one such 

tool that can be deployed by first responders and 

criminal investigators at the scene to assist in the 

identification and collection of digital photographs 

stored on a computer. Although digital images 

are often associated with child exploitation 

investigations, digital photographs have helped 

DIGITAL FORENSIC TOOLS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS: THE FIRST 24 HOURS

The First 24 Hours

Critical minutes are ticking away!

Screen shot of the ImageScan software that first responders and investigators 

at the scene can use to assist in the identification and collection of digital 

photographs stored on a computer.
www.fletc.gov 33

in solving investigations in a variety of offenses 

including murder, rape, fraudulent documents and 

espionage, just to name a few. The fact is there 

really is no limitation to the type of investigation 

that might involve evidence in the form of digital 

photographs.

The FBI provides both the ImageScan materials 

and instructor training to FLETC with no cost 

passed on to the student. The materials included 

with the training are: a USB thumb drive, a CDROM containing the software and a student text 

book. Presently, TOD is providing ImageScan 

training in two advanced programs, the Basic 

Incident Responder to Digital Evidence (BIRDE) 

and the Digital Evidence Acquisition Specialist 

Training Program (DEASTP).

Another tool that can assist law enforcement 

on scene is the Cellebrite Universal Forensic 

Extraction Device (UFED). The UFED allows 

for the extraction of information from a cellular 

phone or other handheld digital devices like 

the iPod Touch. This device can assist law 

enforcement by allowing for the extraction of 

stored information such as recent calls, text 

messages, photos, calendar entries and possibly 

much more depending on the type of device.

TOD presently issues the Cellebrite UFED 

to students attending the Mobile Device 

Investigations Program (MDIP).

Based on feedback provided by students 

attending the Criminal Investigator Training 

Program (CITP), as well as feedback provided 

during multiple curriculum review conferences 

held by TOD, it may not be long before the 

Cellebrite UFED and/or FBI’s ImageScan will be 

provided during one or more of FLETC’s basic 

law enforcement training programs.

A Cellebrite UFED kit shown with many of the different cables used to connect 

the device to as many as 6,500 different cellular phones in use today.

A Cellebrite UFED connected to a Smartphone on the left; preparing to 

copy data from the phone to a connected USB thumb drive on the right.
34 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

By Dave Brewer and Wes Hoekwater

FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 
www.fletc.gov 35

Most tactical teams’ operations are conducted 

at homes when performing door entries, warrant 

service, or encountering barricaded suspects 

and hostage situations in urban environments. 

When thrust into a scenario involving rural 

environments, these teams are not as confident 

or proficient. With the recent trends indicated 

above, law enforcement tactical teams are finding 

themselves involved in many rural operations 

involving marijuana growers, illegal drug couriers 

and suspects fleeing into the backcountry to avoid 

arrest. The need for law enforcement to address 

and to adapt to newly emerging criminal trends 

in rural areas is at an all-time high as the teams 

are unfamiliar with these specific and unique 

tactics. In order to investigate and apprehend the 

individuals involved in these crimes, agencies need 

to have trained trackers and/or tracking teams. 

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers’ 

(FLETC) Backcountry Tactics and Tracking 

Training Program (BTTTP) instructs students 

on how to incorporate innovative and tactically 

safer ways to locate and apprehend suspects in this 

element. The tactics taught in this program easily 

transition into search and recovery operations. 

Additionally, the BTTTP offers techniques to 

distinguish among different types of tracks, thus 

enabling the safe apprehension and subsequent 

prosecution of suspects who have fled the scene of 

a crime. 

The history of the BTTTP began back in 2005 

when FLETC identified a need and developed 

and implemented a program that provided 

law enforcement with the skills necessary to 

“track” people in a tactically safe manner and 

was developed to train officers and agents in 

the principles of tracking and tactical team 

movement. The BTTTP is a one-week course 

offering instruction in land navigation and Global 

Positioning System (GPS), tracking, principles of 

camouflage, crime scene investigation and tactical 

team movement. The program utilizes scenariobased training to reinforce the skills taught in the 

program. 

Since its inception, the BTTTP has successfully 

trained numerous federal, state, county and 

municipal law enforcement officers and agents. 

The BTTTP is typically offered at one of two 

ranches in New Mexico, but has been taught in 

Utah, West Virginia, California, Mississippi and 

most recently in South Carolina. The program 

was initially developed and offered by FLETC’s 

Artesia, NM, site. Due to the popularity of the 

program, agencies located in the eastern United 

States began requesting the training. This required 

Recent high profile events around the country have illustrated the need for tactical tracking for law enforcement officers and agents. The murder of Park 

Ranger Margaret Anderson in Mt. Rainier National Park, Peter Keller’s murder 

of his family in Washington State, Aaron Bassler’s murder of a public official near 

Fort Bragg, Calif. and the recent murder committed by Eugene Palmer in New 

York State all required law enforcement personnel to utilize tracking techniques to 

locate and apprehend the individuals involved in these crimes. As of this writing, 

Mr. Palmer is still at large. In addition to the instances referenced above, officers 

and agents trained as trackers can utilize these skills when investigating marijuana 

growers, conducting search and rescue, investigating game and fish violations, and 

investigating various crime scenes. 

www.fletc.gov 35
36 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

the training be conducted in terrain similar to their 

area of operations. Therefore, it was decided to 

offer the program through FLETC’s Glynco, Ga., 

site. The program’s curriculum is the same for both 

sites and instructors from both sites teach in the 

program. The applicability of the program may not 

be readily evident to officers and agents who do 

not have a background or training in this area, but 

the examples below illustrate the effectiveness of 

tracking and associated skills.

An example of the applicability of the training 

would be a homicide in which a suspect casually 

walks to a location where he commits a homicide 

by bludgeoning the victim to death, then turns and 

casually walks away from the scene, discarding a 

bloody shirt. What would this mean to a tracker 

and the forensic team? The distance between one 

forward footfall and the next suggests a normal 

stride length to and from the crime scene. To the 

trained tracker, this shows intent without fear of 

detection and predisposition in committing the 

crime.

Another example of the applicability of this type 

of training is when a crime scene is contaminated 

by first responders. In this case, the tracker would 

be capable of eliminating all of the first responders’ 

footprints and isolating a track that’s not linked to 

the first responders. This particular track would be 

the suspect’s.

Utilizing the FBI footprint database and 

comparative analysis, a footprint found at a crime 

scene can be matched to a suspect based upon wear 

patterns of the footwear, thus placing a suspect on 

the scene of criminal activity. Footprints are much 

like latent fingerprints in that no two wear patterns 

are the same. Additionally, footprints can show 

many things to include the speed of the individual 

leaving the scene. These types of signs at a crime 

scene paint a vivid picture of what occurred. 

In rural operations with marijuana growers, 

trackers can track an individual from a parked truck 

or car with fertilizer and PVC pipe in the back to 

BACKCOUNTRY TACTICS AND TRACKING TRAINING PROGRAM

Students perform track documentation to include measurements of imprint 

and stride or gait. This information can be used during the track to confirm sign 

or the measurements of stride can be used for micro-tracking to locate sign. 

The tracking box exercise illustrates use of the tracking card. This card compiles 

pertinent information regarding the track. This information can be used during 

the track to confirm sign and can also be used for evidentiary purposes.

The tracker gives “ON TRACK” hand signal to let the team know that he is 

on the track. 
www.fletc.gov 37

the grow site. One such case was on the property 

of an international airport. A majority of the 

marijuana grow sites that are appearing are run by 

Mexican Nationals, who historically are armed with 

assault-type weapons. While attending the BTTTP, 

the teams are trained to move-in through this 

rural type environment and on how to apprehend 

suspects who normally flee at the first sign of law 

enforcement. 

During the BTTTP, team movements are taught 

in which the tracker is protected by a team that 

covers flanks and rear while a controller located 

directly behind the tracker controls the speed and 

movement of the team. The rear cover or “six o’clock 

position” is crucial in cases where individuals are 

counter-tracking. The flanker’s responsibility is 

to clear any areas of threat ahead and also to pick 

up any tracks that cut to the right or left of the 

original line of travel. A key point made to each 

program participant is the theory of “one plus one.” 

That is, if the team is tracking what it believes is 

one suspect, and then it adds one more person 

(one plus one theory), what happens? Sometimes 

suspects walk in the same track; the experienced 

tracker is always looking for this indicator and 

normally can pick this up quite easily.

Night tracking, although risky, may come into 

play when looking for an abducted or lost child. 

Recently the sergeant of a Utah Police Department, 

who is also an instructor in the BTTTP, received 

a call regarding a missing or abducted autistic 

11-year-old girl who was partially blind. The 

tracker was able to locate a footprint in front of the 

house in a puddle of water. He and a team were 

able to track the child for an hour and a half into 

a sagebrush field of about 1,000 acres in rain and 

blowing wind. The child was found hiding in a sage 

brush, cold and suffering from exposure, but she 

made a full recovery. 

The BTTTP stresses how dangerous it is for an 

officer to run after a suspect who has bailed out 

of a car after a pursuit, unless there are several 

Trackers change the angle of light to illuminate the track better.

Team Security at Point Last Seen (PLS), where the tracker confirms/records 

track.

Plotting of team location and PLS to be relayed to Incident Command.
38 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

officers to cover him while he tracks the individual. 

Certainly, in some cases, the tracker finds the suspect 

while tracking alone; however, other cases have ended 

in injury to the officer. In a particular incident in 

the South, a deputy pursued a suspect into a rural 

area. Unbeknownst to the deputy, two people fled 

the vehicle. The deputy, thinking there was only one 

suspect, gave chase on foot only to find two suspects. 

The deputy was outnumbered and was shot in the 

head. The deputy, now seriously injured, could only 

give an approximation as to his location. The BTTTP 

trains the officer/agent on how to tell how many 

people actually fled a scene. 

Officers are trained in the use of various colored 

lights for night tracking. Red works for some, 

blue for others, and subdued yellow for others. It 

will normally depend on what the officer’s eyes 

will accept. Sometimes infrared lights are used in 

conjunction with night vision equipment. An issue 

with night tracking is the light offers a beacon to 

the suspect with regard to the tracker’s distance and 

location. Utilizing a light on the end of a stick or tool 

eliminates the “glow effect” around the tracker’s body 

which typically would make the officer/agent a target.

Participants in the program are trained in land 

navigation as a backup for GPS. Officers have become 

very dependent on electronics to aid in their jobs; 

however, not all electronic devices work all the time. 

There are variables that can affect GPS systems 

and the BTTTP identifies this and several other 

complications of using GPS. Land navigation with 

a compass is old but reliable. Students are trained 

to determine exact locations for air evacuation and 

for documenting exact locations of intelligence 

information for use in crime scene investigations 

or the exact location of the start point of a tracking 

operation.

Tracking is a mindset, a way of life. It is as 

perishable as any skill when not utilized on a regular 

basis. Students who attend the BTTTP are told on 

the first day of class “you will never look at the ground 

the same after this class.”

BACKCOUNTRY TACTICS AND TRACKING TRAINING PROGRAM

Response to Contact - LEOs using Cover to Cover Movement. 

Team providing 360° security during suspect apprehension.

Instructor illustrating the Use of Camouflage and Concealment for Intelligence 

Gathering. 
FLETA:

Past, Present and Future

By Bob Bruton, James Hensley and Billy McLeod

The Federal Law Enforcement Training 

Accreditation (FLETA) Board celebrate 10 

years of excellence in 2012. The establishment 

of FLETA and the potential for improving the 

professionalism, competence and distinction 

of federal law enforcement are historic. 

Over the past 10 years, FLETA 

has grown and continues to 

evolve, advance and sets 

the tone for future law 

enforcement training 

nationwide. 

In 1999, the Office 

of Management 

and Budget asked 

the Federal Law 

Enforcement Training 

Centers (FLETC) 

to gather federal law 

enforcement professionals 

to develop a process that 

would systematically improve 

federal law enforcement officers 

and agents. The result was a premier 

training accreditation model with 

standards and procedures to evaluate federal law 

enforcement training. The initial model incorporated 

best practices from state, local, and academia, and 

included over 250 standards. This process allows 

agencies to assess their programs and make systematic 

and continuous improvements that have an immediate 

impact on their law enforcement operations.

In 2002, the FLETA Board stood up as an 

independent body to manage and govern the FLETA 

Standards and Procedures. During the first three years, 

the standards were refined and in 2005, the FLETA 

Board granted academy accreditation to the Department 

of State. Once the threshold was crossed, 

many other federal departments and 

agencies quickly followed. 

“I think the last ten years have 

been very progressive for law 

enforcement training and I 

think both Congress and 

OMB should be very 

proud of their investment 

because I think the 

return on investment 

has been huge,” stated 

Connie Patrick, Director 

of the FLETC, who was 

responsible for leading the 

development of FLETA. 

“OMB said they believed 

we needed to set standards for 

federal law enforcement training, 

and they directed the funds to be 

utilized for that and have continued to 

fund FLETA ever since. OMB had the foresight, 

and, now seeing the results ten years later, they should be 

very proud because FLETA has had continuous benefits. 

I think that we will realize those benefits for a long time 

to come.” 

www.fletc.gov 39
40 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

Today, most major federal law enforcement training 

academies are part of the FLETA process. Since its 

inception, the FLETA Board has granted academy 

accreditation to 15 federal training academies, and 

nearly 70 programs have received accreditation or 

reaccreditation. As these numbers continue to grow as 

more organizations learn about FLETA and the process, 

one constant remains steadfast; the FLETA Board’s 

vision to — promote excellence in law enforcement 

operations through training accreditation.

The National Training Center (NTC) for Office of 

Personnel Management (OPM), Federal Investigative 

Services (FIS), located in Slippery Rock, Pa., is the 

academy that provides specialized training for personnel 

throughout the government who conduct background 

investigations and suitability adjudications. 

Prior to applying to FLETA, NTC staff members had 

limited interaction with other federal training entities 

and didn’t always have an understanding of the latest 

training techniques or best practices shared in the federal 

community. NTC training personnel had no official 

training manual and didn’t fully adhere to the principals 

of Instructional Systems Design (ISD). There was no 

way to calculate return on expectations and no way to 

guarantee that critical tasks were being trained or that 

course objectives would meet the needs of the student. 

Instructors didn’t attend any instructor training or have 

to meet any specific requirements. 

However, beginning in March 2010, the NTC began 

sending select individuals to FLETA Assessor training 

sessions. In these sessions, NTC staff members had 

the opportunity to interact with employees from other 

agencies, share ideas, brainstorm innovative methods 

for developing and administering training programs 

and speak with members of the FLETA Office 

of Accreditation regarding program strengths and 

weaknesses.

As a result, the NTC staff developed a Training 

Directives Manual based directly upon the FLETA 

Standards and Procedures manual. The new manual 

ordered the creation of a collection of supporting 

documents to include an instructor monitoring process, 

an employee orientation, a training development 

guide, and numerous course controls and tracking 

documents. None of these documents or processes 

existed anywhere in FIS prior to beginning the FLETA 

process. The Training Directives Manual and supporting 

documentation inform stakeholders how business 

is conducted and the methodology behind NTC 

operations.

As a result of this effort, NTC staff has successfully 

introduced the use of ISD principals into all NTC 

Director Connie Patrick receives FLETA’s Certificate of Accreditation for the 

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center on March 23, 2006.

2006 FLETA Board Members (Front Row, L-R) - Tim Danahey, Federal 

Law Enforcement Officers Association; Joseph Enders, Office of Personnel 

Management; Charlene Lamb, Department of State; Sharon Henegan* US 

Courts (*FLETA Board Chairperson); Lane Timm, Department of Treasury; Terry 

Vermilion, Department of Health and Human Services; John Kmetz, Department 

of Interior; Keith Prewitt, US Secret Service (Back Row, L-R) - Mark Fallon, 

Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Mark Matese, Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement; Craig Hughes, Department of Energy; John Moran, Transportation 

Security Administration; Ken Jones, US Postal Inspection Service; Don Webb, US 

Drug Enforcement Agency; John Dooher, FLETC

FLETA: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
www.fletc.gov 41

programs and courses. Abiding by the FLETA standards 

has meant the NTC provides staff and students with 

clear guidance on what is expected from every individual. 

The careful documentation of these expectations protects 

all parties involved from accusations of bias and can be 

used to deter needless litigation if a dispute arises. 

Another organizational benefit to FIS has been 

improved communication with senior leadership. 

Having FLETA accredited programs is something 

of which the entire organization can be proud. 

Training administration and operations have improved 

incalculably through the FLETA standardization 

process. The NTC now employs a systems approach to 

curriculum design, a training manual, written training 

directives and supporting documentation, an improved 

and standardized instructor development process and a 

method by which to measure the return on expectations 

of our entire training effort.

The NTC looks forward to continuing its relationship 

with FLETA beyond the two programs recently 

granted accreditation by going through reaccreditation 

proceedings, getting additional programs accredited, and 

eventually obtaining academy accreditation. 

From the modest beginnings of FLETA ten years 

ago, technologies have made huge advancements that 

have changed every aspect of our daily lives from 

business operations to social interaction. Today the 

FLETA Board continues to analyze and embrace 

new technologies, processes and standards to keep 

the FLETA community in the forefront of training 

excellence. 

To understand the importance of improving these 

processes, consider that in 2009, FLETA conducted 19 

assessments, in 2010 and 2011, FLETA conducted 29 

assessments each year, and 40 assessments in 2012.
42 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

With about 150 applications in process and the 

cyclical nature of reaccreditation, the number of 

assessments and related activities will continue to 

grow. Added to the equation are budget reductions, 

efficiency reviews, and a growing demand for assessors; 

consequently, one can see how critical it has become 

for the FLETA Board to streamline its processes 

and procedures. Through collaboration, FLETA can 

leverage existing software applications and potentially 

reduce paperwork and travel expenses while increasing 

productivity.

Recent research included recommendations to 

modernize the FLETA website. This modernization 

would support all aspects of the FLETA mission 

by providing the platform for the FLETA Board to 

uniformly communicate the mission, process and 

changes with the accreditation community, Congress, 

the Administration, and the public. 

Website modernization will give FLETA the ability 

to host secure extranet and intranet sites with the 

ability to push information across the three mediums: 

the Internet, which is the public World Wide Web; 

the extranet or Virtual Private Network (VPN), 

which uses the World Wide Web but has various 

security parameters to secure the site for specific users; 

and finally, the intranet, which is used for internal 

communication. These changes will also improve the 

ability of FLETA to host videos, webcasts, podcasts 

and other e-learning modes. Other services would 

include reference libraries, an interactive calendar link 

to Outlook Calendar, newsletter publishing and even 

mobile connectivity.

A key element of the modernization is the ability to 

create individual workspaces for agencies to upload their 

accreditation files to a secure site. Through these services, 

agencies could provide different access levels to different 

users. This would allow assessments of electronic files 

via the web, which would improve assessors’ efficiencies 

while on-site at the agency being assessed. Using this 

approach could significantly save travel costs, reduce 

paperwork and reduce assessors’ time away from their 

parent agency, thus reducing the burden of supporting 

the growing demand for assessors. While the initiative 

will not eliminate the need to have assessors on-site to 

conduct interviews and observations, it will streamline 

the processes.

Whatever the outcome, the FLETA Board will 

ensure that new technologies, standards, and procedures 

enhance the FLETA Board’s vision of improving 

federal law enforcement training. The FLETA Board 

is committed to supporting the future of federal 

law enforcement training through professionalism, 

competence and excellence.

 2013 FLETA Board Members (Front Row, L-R) - Dr. Gary Mitchell, Exec. Director, 

FLETA Office of Accreditation; Michael Delgado, TIGTA; Cynthia Atwood, FLETC; 

Col. Kristine Blackwell, AFOSI; Nancy Stout, Dept. of State; Theresa Stoop, ATF; 

James Gregorius, DEA; Cdr. Thomas Walsh, USCG

(Back Row, L-R) - Michael Browning, NCIS; William Fallon, USMS; Patrick 

Corcoran, USPIS; Brian Peters, DOI; Ronald Ward, U.S. Courts; Angela Hrdlicka, 

CIGIE; Dr. Curtis Smith, public representative; Michael Novak, TSA; Darrell Cagle, 

Dept. of VA

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation (FLETA) Board granted 

program reaccreditation status to four FLETC programs at the April 25, 2013 

meeting in Glynco, Ga. The four programs are the Boat Operators Anti-Terrorism 

Training Program (BOAT), the Inland Boat Operator Training Program (IBOT), the 

Law Enforcement Control Tactics Instructor Training Program (LECTITP), and the 

Law Enforcement Instructor In-Service Training Program (LEIISTP).

FLETA: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
AIR AND MARINE

BASIC TRAINING ACADEMY

by Jan E. Morin

Scenario-Based Training

www.fletc.gov 43
44 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

When completed, the site will have a total of seven 

platforms consisting of one helicopter, three fixedwing aircraft and three marine vessels. This training 

venue will give the Air and Marine basic trainees the 

opportunity to apply what they have learned in the 

classroom to real world scenarios. In the past, this 

type of practical application training could not be 

provided to the new 

agents and officers 

until they were in 

advanced training.

The creation of 

the AMIS was 

the direct result 

of findings that 

came out of an 

OTD sponsored 

program review 

that began in 2009. 

The review was 

conducted utilizing 

the principles 

outlined in the 

instructional design 

model adopted by OTD after the formation of 

CBP. The model calls for a multi-step controlled 

analytical process for designing and evaluating the 

effectiveness of training.

A new day has dawned for U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection (CBP), Office of Training and Development 

(OTD), Air and Marine Basic Training Academy (AMBTA) 

headquartered at the Federal Law Enforcement Training 

Centers (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia. The academy is 

embarking on a new era of scenario-based training made 

possible by the acquisition of several aircraft and marine 

vessels. These aircraft and vessels are at the core of a new 

Air and Marine Interdiction Site (AMIS) built at FLETC. 

A Critical Task Selection Board (CTSB) was 

convened and tasked with reviewing the entire 

AMBTA curriculum. By surveying subject matter 

experts, agents and officers, training staff and 

graduates of AMBTA, the board was able to 

generate a critical tasks list. At this juncture it 

became obvious that a need existed for the addition 

of practical 

application training 

in the AMBTA. 

In order to 

achieve the real 

world skills 

identified by the 

CTSB, aviation 

and marine 

training platforms 

would have to be 

constructed and 

aircraft and vessels 

would need to be 

set up on site; thus, 

the birth of the 

AMIS. 

Over the ensuing months many obstacles had to 

be overcome, but persistence paid off and the AMIS 

began taking shape in September 2011 with the 

AIR AND MARINE BASIC TRAINING ACADEMY

The entrance sign to the Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Interdiction Site (AMIS).
www.fletc.gov 45

arrival of the first conveyance, a Cessna 172 Sky 

Hawk. The aircraft had traveled to FLETC from 

Potsdam, N.Y., where it was seized by CBP Air 

and Marine agents from the Plattsburgh Air and 

Marine Branch for false and fraudulent registration. 

The history of the aircraft indicated that it also may 

have been involved with other illegal activities on the 

northern border. 

Two weeks later two marine vessels, a 27 foot 

Carolina Skiff and a 36 foot Dakota, were delivered 

to the AMIS from the Office of Air and Marine 

(OAM) National Marine Center in St. Augustine, 

Fla. The Dakota is a former CBP interceptor vessel 

previously used to patrol the waters around south 

Florida, specifically the Florida Keys. The Carolina 

skiff is a retired U.S. Coast Guard vessel. While at 

the National Marine Training Center, both vessels 

were prepped and branded with OAM’s insignia, 

preparing the vessels for their new role as vital 

training tools for the AMBTA. 

At the AMIS, the Dakota is staged to represent 

an OAM interdiction vessel’s position relative to a 

suspect vessel (portrayed by the Carolina Skiff.) The 

Dakota’s position reflects OAM’s standard operating 

procedures when interdicting and boarding a suspect 

vessel. The vessels are securely dry docked on cement 

cradles and surrounded by a railing and an eight foot 

covered deck. This allows the staff to safely replicate 

a multitude of scenarios for their trainees including 

simulated tactical boarding, searching of suspect 

vessels while afloat and marina document checks. A 

third, yet unnamed marine vessel, will join these two 

vessels in the near future.

The second component of the AMIS is the aviation 

interdiction element which includes three fixed-wing 

aircraft and a UH-1 (Huey) helicopter. The fixedwing planes are the aforementioned Cessna-172 and 

two twin engine Piper Cheyenne PA-42 IIIA’s. The 

Cheyennes both have had distinguished careers with 

Customs and OAM prior to becoming an integral 

part of the AMIS.

The Huey staged at the AMIS is a reallocated 

military asset that CBP refurbished and repurposed. 

It is a fully branded aircraft that glistens with its new 

CBP OAM signature black and gold exterior paint. 

Although it does not have an engine, it is realistic in 

every other sense. 

Records show that this helicopter had served as 

an active-duty Army aviation asset prior to being 

assigned to the Georgia Army National Guard. After 

many years of use in Georgia it was “retired” to an 

aircraft holding facility in Arizona where many other 

decommissioned military helicopters are stored. It 

was from this location outside of Tucson, Az. that 

CBP procured it for use at the Academy. From its 

active duty days to its new home in Glynco, Ga., 

this helicopter has truly come full circle in service to 

the country. Although retired from flight duty, this 

helicopter with its new mission of training CBP Air 

and Marine officers and agents will now serve as an 

invaluable dynamic training platform for years to 

come.

The first component of the AMIS is the marine 

interdiction element which includes a Dakota 

(pictured above entering through the FLETC 

gate) and a Carolina Skiff.

The AMIS marine interdiction element in early 

stages of construction.

With construction complete, the Dakota is 

staged to represent an OAM interdiction vessel’s 

position relative to a suspect vessel.
46 FLETCJ SUMMER 2013 Volume 11, Issue 1 

By having both fixed-wing and a rotary aircraft 

on site, the aviation portion of the AMIS will have 

the ability to be a multi-faceted training ground. 

New officers and agents can now practice numerous 

disciplines including, but not limited to: tactics, 

arrest techniques, ingress/egress from various aircraft 

positions, and caution and danger zones in and 

around aircraft.

According to AMBTA Assistant Director Paul 

Kleine, “These assets will provide some of the most 

realistic scenario-based training available. It is the 

goal of the Air and Marine Basic Training Academy 

to better prepare officers and agents by creating 

realistic opportunities to encounter situations that 

are happening in the field every day, as well as set the 

stage for follow-on training.”

The acquisition of these conveyances coincided 

with the revision of the basic training curriculum 

for the AMBTA. The re-write of the curriculum 

and the addition of numerous hours of practical 

exercises have been a cooperative OTD project led 

by the AMBTA and OAM subject matter experts in 

coordination with OTD’s Training Production and 

Standards Division.

The new curriculum consists of a 16 week program. 

Typically there are 24 trainees per class who spend 

more than 600 hours in training preparing for 

their new positions as aviation or marine officers 

and agents. The trainees already have their civilianaviation or marine-specific credentials when 

they arrive at the AMBTA, so their time is spent 

acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to be CBP 

law enforcement agents working in the challenging 

aviation and marine fields. Students are instructed on 

subjects such as history, law, professionalism, integrity, 

communication, law enforcement equipment, safety, 

survival techniques, use of force, firearms, surveillance 

and interviewing techniques. With the curriculum 

revision, the trainees now participate in more than 40 

hours of AMIS-centered practical exercises.

CBP Field Operations Academy Director Kevin J. 

Strong is proud of the new curriculum, stating, “The 

structured and disciplined environment, proficient 

and exemplary staff, professionally developed 

curriculum, and adherence to our guiding principles 

of pride, esprit de corps, professionalism, and 

integrity enable the Air and Marine Basic Training 

Academy to train, develop, and prepare Air and 

Marine Agents and Officers to protect our Nation 

with vigilance, service and integrity.”

In retrospect, it has been a phenomenal journey 

for OAM since its creation just a few short years 

ago. In 2005 CBP’s aviation and marine assets, 

programs and personnel were consolidated under the 

OAM. The new organization was given the mission 

to protect the American people and the nation’s 

critical infrastructure through the coordinated 

use of integrated air and marine forces to detect, 

interdict and prevent acts of terrorism and the 

unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs and 

The second component of the AMIS is the 

aviation interdiction element which includes a 

UH-1 (Huey) helicopter, Cessna-172 and two 

twin engine Piper Cheyenne PA-42 IIIA’s. 

A Piper Cheyenne PA-42 IIIA’s is being hoisted 

to its new permanent landing place.

The Huey being maneuvered into place at the 

AMIS is a fully branded aircraft with the CBP 

OAM signature black and gold exterior paint. 

AIR AND MARINE BASIC TRAINING ACADEMY
www.fletc.gov 47

other contraband toward or across the borders of the 

United States.

As the world’s largest aviation and maritime law 

enforcement organization, OAM has over 1200 

officers and agents operating from 80 locations 

working around the clock to keep America safe. 

Through the use of almost 300 aircraft and more 

than 250 marine vessels they carry out their mission 

and achieve noteworthy results. According to 

fiscal year 2010 statistics released by OAM, the 

organization was directly involved in operations 

that resulted in the seizure of more than 12,000 

pounds of cocaine and nearly 600,000 pounds of 

marijuana. OAM officers and agents also assisted 

in the arrest of 62,624 illegal aliens and the seizure 

of 1,109 weapons. In addition to the anti-terrorism 

and traditional missions of interception of people, 

contraband, aircraft and vessels, OAM also conducts 

operations in support of other federal, state and local 

needs such as disaster relief. Most recently OAM 

was involved in providing humanitarian assistance to 

victims of Hurricane Sandy.

OAM stands ready to respond to any mission 

assigned, whether that is protecting the homeland 

or responding to the call for help during a natural 

disaster. To that end, the AMBTA will always strive 

to provide high quality and realistic training for their 

trainees. The development and commissioning of the 

AMIS is innovating and changing the training of air 

and marine officers and agents for years to come. 

The AMIS is a quantum leap forward in scenariobased training for the OAM’s new agent and officer 

corps. With the integration of the AMIS into the 

AMBTA revised curriculum, the Academy is sending 

new officers and agents into the field better prepared 

than ever before to take on the challenges that they 

face in the aviation and marine fields of operation.

The involvement of the following personnel was 

essential to the success of the creation of the AMIS: 

Asst. Director Paul Cabrera (retired), Supervisory Air 

Interdiction Agent (SAIA) Jon Rice, Asst. Director Paul 

Kleine, and (A) Branch Chief Scott Atkison.

By having both fixed-wing and a rotary aircraft on site, the aviation portion of 

the AMIS will have the ability to be a multi-faceted training venue.

The completed AMIS marine interdiction venue fully covers and houses 

the Dakota and Carolina Skiff from the elements.

One of the two Piper Cheyenne PA-42 IIIA’s is located in a separate fenced in 

area for interactive cover drills utilizing role-playing scenarios.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers

U. S. Department of Homeland Security

1131 Chapel Crossing Road

Glynco, Georgia 31524

www.fletc.gov

We Train Those Who Protect Our Homeland

Homeland

Security