COPS Training Portal

Course Overview: Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) Refresher, an eLearning course, reinforces key concepts that law enforcement officers apply to observe, identify, and articulate the signs of impairment related to drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both to reduce the number of impaired driving incidents, serious injury, and fatal crashes. The guidance provided in this course is not intended to be prescriptive; rather, it is designed to be adaptable and generally applicable to law enforcement practitioners who serve in varied communities. 

This course supports law enforcement practitioners in their efforts to effectively assess impaired drivers at roadside. As a refresher, the course reinforces the key concepts presented in the full, 16-hour, instructor-led ARIDE course. The design of course content supports officers in the enforcement of DWI (Driving While Impaired) offenses, especially those that may involve drug impairment. This training enhances learners' understanding of the role of the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and facilitates better utilization of DREs in the field. For those communities with no DREs or limited access to their services, this course helps officers make informed decisions related to testing and documentation of drug-impaired driving cases. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Define and describe impaired driving enforcement training programs
• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and how this course supports the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program
• Describe the purpose and proper administration of eye examinations and additional impairment tests, including Lack of Convergence (LOC), Modified Romberg Balance (MRB), and Finger-to-Nose (FTN)
• Describe the general effects of drugs from each of the seven drug categories
• Articulate possible effects of polydrug use related to the general indicators of alcohol and drugs
• List signs which may emerge during the DWI detection process indicating the subject is under the influence of a drug
• Interpret the totality of the evidence to support the decision to arrest or release the subject
• Identify circumstances that may require a call for a DRE to assist with the investigation
• Identify resources and personnel required for effective post-arrest screening
• Accurately document all aspects of the DWI arrest from the time of observation through the post-arrest processing
• Accurately document, in the proper event sequence order, observed impairment in each of the three phases of the detection process
• Identify additional resources to support prosecution
• Prepare a comprehensive case file for effective courtroom presentation
• Articulate relevant evidence as it relates to case preparation and prosecution

Target Audience: The ARIDE Refresher course is intended for those who have previously completed the full, instructor-led ARIDE course. This refresher does not replace the initial 16-hour ARIDE course; rather, it is designed to strengthen and sustain the learner’s understanding of the concepts presented in that course. Like the initial ARIDE course, this refresher bridges the gap between Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) courses and DRE courses, providing an enhanced level of awareness to law enforcement officers of drug impairment in the context of traffic safety. This course does not act as a substitute for the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program and will not qualify or certify an individual as a DRE.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Center for Policing Innovation (NCPI), formerly known as Virginia Center for Policing Innovation, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was supported by cooperative agreement 2020-CK-WXK-037 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Learning Hours: 4 hours including the pre-test and post-test.

Is this POST approved in my state?

Course Overview: Better Encounters: Police and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, an eLearning course, enhances the capacity of law enforcement to identify and effectively interact with community members who may have intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) during traffic stops and other exchanges in the community.

The significant and rising prevalence of I/DD in the population makes this course especially pertinent for law enforcement and other safety practitioners with a focus on traffic safety. Better Encounters presents the rationale for learning more about people with I/DD, including the growing rates of specific disabilities and the likely contexts for interactions with police during traffic-related contact. The course also provides the means of identifying behaviors that are characteristic of those with I/DD, developing strategies for having positive interactions, and improving situational awareness and decision-making. Ultimately, the greater the awareness law enforcement officers have of the conditions and people they are likely to encounter, the better equipped they are to effectively manage a wide range of situations.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the relevant I/DD terms including intellectual and developmental disability, developmental disability, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and community policing
• Identify relevant legal obligations including those created by the ADA
• Understand the prevalence of I/DD in the population
• Recognize specific rationales for training to improve interactions between police and people with I/DD including self-identified need
• Discern the most likely contexts for encounters between police and people with I/DD
• Distinguish behaviors that indicate possible I/DD
• Identify indicators that a person with I/DD may also have a mental health condition
• Recognize the function of appropriate communications in improving encounters with people who may have I/DD
• Explore strategies for managing stress during encounters
• Discern a decision-making framework to improve interactions with an expanding range of people

Target Audience: Law enforcement officers and other public safety practitioners with a focus on traffic stops.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Center for Policing Innovation (NCPI), formerly known as Virginia Center for Policing Innovation, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was supported by cooperative agreement 15-J-COPS-21-GK-021240-MUMU by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Learning Hours: 3 hours including the pre-test and post-test.

Is this POST approved in my state?

Course Overview: Expert Insights: Testifying in Court as a Drug Recognition Expert, an eLearning course, is designed to support Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) as they prepare to appear as witnesses in drug-impaired driving trials. Throughout the course, experts in the fields of law enforcement and prosecution share advice on enhancing courtroom presence and testimony skills, in addition to examining some of the challenges of testifying in impaired driving cases.

This course explores the role of the DRE witness, fundamental courtroom rules and processes, case file preparation, and personal preparation, recognizing that the groundwork for successful testimony is multi-faceted.  Learners interact with the content sequentially, beginning with the preparation required before appearance as a DRE witness at a trial, the expert witness testimony during the direct examination, cross-examination by the defense attorney, and considerations after the conclusion of the trial.  

While tailored to officers who are DREs, this eLearning course is not part of the process of qualifying for or certifying an individual as a DRE.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the role of the witness in an impaired driving case
• Describe the common courtroom routines and the roles of the courtroom participants
• Explain the connection between a detailed report and an effective trial testimony
• Articulate relevant evidence as it relates to case preparation and prosecution
• Prepare a comprehensive case file for effective courtroom presentation
• Identify resources for preparing to qualify as an expert witness
• Describe strategies for communicating effectively with the prosecution team
• Explain the importance of the outcome of a voir dire examination
• Identify standards regarding the admissibility of expert testimony
• Describe the chronology of an effective testimony
• Recall types of questions posed by the prosecutor during direct examination
• Explain how to structure detailed answers to open-ended questions
• Recall types of objections made during direct examination
• Describe appropriate reactions to objections made during the direct examination
• Recall fundamental courtroom rules for witness testimony
• List techniques used by the defense attorney during a cross-examination
• Describe effective ways to respond to questions during a cross-examination
• Identify common defense challenges to the DRE protocol
• Demonstrate effective responses to common defense challenges to the DRE protocol
• Explain the importance of updating the curriculum vitae of a DRE at the conclusion of a trial
• Discuss the value of obtaining post-trial feedback from the prosecutor as a way to reflect on witness performance
• Identify sources for professional development resources for DREs
• Explore case law that relates to DRE cases

Target Audience: Expert Insights: Testifying in Court as a Drug Recognition Expert is intended for law enforcement officers who have previously completed the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program or are already DREs. Although primarily intended for DREs, this course is also appropriate for prosecutors as a guide to working with DREs to prepare for drug-impaired driving trials.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Center for Policing Innovation (NCPI), formerly known as Virginia Center for Policing Innovation, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was supported by cooperative agreement 2020-CK-WXK-037 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Course Length: 4 hours including the pre-test and post-test.

Is this POST approved in my state?

Course Overview: 

Vehicular Pursuit Management: Balancing Risks and Enhancing Safety, an eLearning course, explores the decision-making challenges for law enforcement professionals during vehicular pursuits.  

Vehicular pursuits rank among the most hazardous and controversial activities undertaken by law enforcement. The purpose of this course is to provide police chiefs, sheriffs, and other law enforcement practitioners with insights and knowledge that can help navigate the complex challenges and the often-conflicting demands associated with police pursuits.

Based on the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and COPS Office publication, Vehicular Pursuits: A Guidebook for Law Enforcement Executives on Managing the Associated Risks, this eLearning course is informed by numerous pursuit policies and the expertise of field professionals, including law enforcement leaders from local, state, and tribal agencies.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the advantages of establishing vehicle pursuit philosophies and policies
• Identify the key components of a vehicle pursuit
• List the risks involved in vehicle pursuits
• Identify the challenges and considerations in setting pursuit policies
• Recognize the role of supervisory involvement in managing the risks of a pursuit
• Identify means of managing the risks associated with vehicular pursuits
• Explore the importance of pursuit interventions in managing the risks of vehicular pursuits
• Explore alternatives that can shorten or eliminate the need for a vehicular pursuit
• List the considerations for pursuit interventions
• Recognize the role of data in managing law enforcement pursuits
• List the components of a comprehensive pursuit reporting system
• Explore how agency-level analysis of pursuit data can be used to identify areas of improvement
• Identify the advantages of having partnerships with independent research partners
• Identify the benefits of providing regular and realistic pursuit training to agencies
• Explore models that can guide pursuit-related decision making
• List the components of a comprehensive pursuit driving training
• Recognize the benefits of community engagement and transparency about vehicular pursuits
• List methods for educating the community about pursuits
• Explore methods of community engagement regarding pursuits
• Outline the nine steps in the Prioritized Action Plan

Target Audience: 

This course is intended for law enforcement executives, decision-makers, and policymakers. However, the course is also appropriate for any public safety practitioner or stakeholder who is interested in learning more about the process of establishing vehicular pursuit policies and managing pursuits to promote safety.

Cooperative Partners: 

This tuition-free online training was developed by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2020-CK-WX-K035 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Learning Hours: 

3 hours including the pre-test and post-test.