11/11/2024

The last of four pilot training sessions as part of the Erasmus+ project Development of Joint Curriculum for First Responders on the Use of Force and First Aid Tactical Procedures (FIRST-TAC) was held at the Police School in Słupsk, Poland from November 4 to 8, 2024.

This project, led by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia and Police Academy "Prvi hrvatski redarstvenik" since September 2023, has been conducted with the partners: the Agency for Education and Professional Training from Mostar, the Lithuanian Police School, and the Police School in Słupsk, Poland.

The project focuses on two areas crucial for the daily work of police officers: the use of force and tactical medicine. Over the past year, experts from the partner institutions have developed an extensive training package, which includes a curriculum as well as materials for participants and trainers. During three pilot training sessions previously conducted in Croatia, Lithuania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, both the program and learning materials were tested and upgraded.

The ultimate aim of the project is to enhance and standardize the procedures of regular police officers in the application of force and provision of first aid through the exchange of experiences and best practices and by aligning the national curricula of the partner countries.

Before arriving at the Police School in Słupsk, the participants were required to refresh their theoretical knowledge as a basis for practical exercises through a virtual classroom on the e-learning platform of the Police Academy "Prvi hrvatski redarstvenik." Trainers from the partner countries then guided them through these exercises.

During the first four days of training, the focus was on the use of force, while on the fourth day, the exercises shifted to tactical medicine and first aid. On the fifth day, four complex simulation exercises were conducted. They incorporated the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills acquired during online learning and exercise sessions. On the last day, an evaluation of the training was conducted via an online exit survey on the e-learning platform to assess the participants' satisfaction with the learning materials and training implementation. It was an important tool in shaping the final curriculum and materials for participants and trainers.

As this training was the final one in the project, two focus groups were held at the Police School in Słupsk, involving trainers and participants. The goal was to gain additional insights into the impact of the pilot training and the selected teaching methodology on the participants.

The curriculum and materials for participants and trainers will now be consolidated into a comprehensive handbook and translated into national languages of the FIRST-TAC project participants. This material outcome of the project, along with the extensive knowledge and experiences the participants have gathered throughout the project’s activities, has the potential to bring a qualitative change to teaching methods in all partner countries, according to a statement from the Croatian Police Academy.