SSP 455 - Special Police Officer Initial Training - Defensive Tactics and Use of Force

2.4 Continuing Education Units (CEU). This course is not for Credit(s).

This continuing education course, for individuals wanting to earn the special police officer (SPO) commission, is designed to provide instruction and addresses multiple SPO training objectives as approved by the Secretary of the Maryland State Police. Topics to be covered include: principles of weaponless defense, use of impact weapons, restraining devices, prisoner transport, appropriate use of force, and de-escalation techniques.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. identify a special police officer’s legal responsibilities to intervene when another special police officer is using unnecessary force or acting outside the scope of their duties;
2. identify legal requirements related to a special police officer’s use of force based upon Maryland law;
3. identify how a suspect’s level of resistance may impact the level/type of force used by a special police officer;
4. identify specific conditions or factors that may impact the level/type of force used by a special police officer;
5. identify the consequences of special police officer actions that are not legal;
6. identify de-escalation requirements under the Maryland Use of Force Statute;
7. demonstrate proper procedure for thoroughly searching an individual;
8. demonstrate a safe and effective position to assume while interviewing a suspicious person;
9. identify the basic principles of weaponless defense;
10. demonstrate proper techniques for using departmentally-approved impact weapons;
11. demonstrate safe and effective use and removal of a restraint device on a compliant subject;
12. demonstrate a safe and effective method to escort a suspect from premises;
13. identify methods for preventing in-custody deaths; and
14. demonstrate safely placing, securing, and removing a prisoner in a vehicle.