University of Utah police receive ICAT training

The University of Utah recently conducted Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics (ICAT) classes for its police department through the Center for Domestic Preparedness’ (CDP’s) indirect training program.

Indirect training allows courses to be delivered by volunteer responders to others in their organization, community, or both. The volunteer responders must be graduates of the courses they instruct as well as that course’s associated train-the-trainer course.

The two-day ICAT course is designed specifically for situations involving individuals who are unarmed, or are armed with weapons other than firearms, and experiencing a crisis.

ICAT program literature says the training program helps officers assess situations, make safe and effective decisions, and document and learn from their actions. It incorporates critical thinking, crisis intervention, communications and tactics, putting them together in an integrated approach to training.

All officers within the department completed the training in small groups of six. This enabled each class to be conducted in one 10-hour day, with minimal impact to the department’s mission.

“These are concepts we’ve been using, since our department emphasizes using words instead of force. ICAT reinforces our current policies and training,” said Sgt. Jason Miller, a ICAT Train-the-Trainer graduate who instructed the courses.

For more information about ICAT, visit https://cdp.dhs.gov/training/course/PER-922.