Municipal Core Courses
Skill-Based De-escalation Training for Municipal Enforcement Officers (MLEO)
Training that focuses on Customer Service and Managing Triggered Emotions of the Public You Serve.
Step training Inc. offers a professional de-escalation course developed and designed for your specific municipal needs. It does not matter if you issue building permits, operate a snow-plow or act as a security or transit officer, de-escalation is about managing triggered emotions and working towards specific outcomes. When people are in closed emotional loops, it takes practiced skills and strategies to move them back to a point of communication and resolution. Instead of being drawn into the emotional noise of an escalated person, we teach practical skills in addressing the emotional trigger and support that through an evidence-based process that focuses on personalization, validation, interventions and a service focus.
We specialize in addressing the real needs of municipal enforcement, corporate security services and transit professionals.
Defensive Tactics and Establishing Control for the Municipal Officer
Step Training Inc. delivers courses in gaining control and compliance of persons under arrest.
This course is not a “Martial Art” class.
The training within this course links communication, the creation of time and distance, de-escalation strategies and physical techniques intended to gain control and maintain safety for both officer and suspect. Topics include practical ways of creating space, maintaining an “exit strategy”, accessing all available resources, authorities, and when needed, the physical skills of control and defence.
Violence between law enforcement and subjects occur less than one percent of the time in Ontario. Our training removes the notion of “fighting” and we replace it with establishing control. In most cases, this can be accomplished without the need for physical force. Avoidance and blocking are emphasized, with the engagement of the suspect being the last resort.
Our material in this area is clear and decisive. The content is intended for those officers that need core skills in this area of control. The content is simple and non-complicated. All techniques are made relatable by providing clear examples of when they would be necessary for a municipal officer.
Having spent close to 40 years in martial arts, I know that the material of martial arts is complicated, difficult to defend in court and requires dedicated and consistent practice. Municipal officers require training that is simple, speaks to core concepts of defence and control and can be articulated in a way that maintains public trust.
Stress Modulation Course for Municipal Officers & Staff (New)
Addressing an Officer’s Physiological Responses to Stress & how it Impacts Decision Making and Performance
When a person encounters a stressful situation, they experience a surge of natural chemicals, such as adrenaline and cortisol. These chemicals allow the body to respond quickly. When this biological threat response is moderate, it enhances performance through more accurate vision, hearing, motor control, and response time. However, when the threat response is severe the response can negatively affect performance by creating distortions in thinking, vision, hearing, and increasing motor control problems, which can result in slower reaction times.
The research found that, regardless of experience or expertise level, officers didn’t often connect their psychological and physical reactions with their performance. Therefore, a critical component of our training is to illustrate this connection in a way that is individualized and relatable, and provide concrete strategies to improve performance and resilience.
Modern training programs and research need to meet the goals and expectations set out by organizations and the public. Specifically, an evidence-based method of improving decision-making about applying Use of Force techniques and de-escalation strategies while also enhancing officer resilience.
The Stress Modulation Course offered by Step training Inc. addresses these concerns by providing concrete immediately applicable strategies in the control and modulation of stress.
Use of Force Requalification For Municipal Officers (Baton & Handcuff)
Providing Certified Professional Training in Incident Response
Step Training Inc. provides comprehensive complete courses in incident response, building core modules of learning around Use of Force, Baton, Handcuffing, De-escalation and Legal Authorities. Our courses speak to the question of “WHY” decisions and actions are being made, and how they fit into a model of service and de-escalation. As violence between the subjects and law enforcement account for less than one percent of incidents, the focus is on the professional “human” skills of communication, personalization, validation, decision making and outcome-focused processes. Officers are taught to see through the verbal “noise” and let go of preconceived notions that often lead to escalation.
This course is not a police course “rebooted” and delivered to municipalities. This course contains content and examples that are specific to the MLEO, supporting their specific role and authorities.
We have over seven years of direct experience working with municipalities across Ontario, and our applied research has taken place at over 40 law enforcement organizations. Our content is mindful of liability and risk, budgets and the direct relationship between the MLEO and the public they serve.