Creating and Administering Policy

Instructor: George Perez

Duration: 2 Days (16 Professional Development Hours)

Cost: From $400.00

Target Audience: This course is designed for public safety supervisors and administrators working in police departments, correctional facilities, fire departments, EMS agencies, and government social service organizations.

Course Overview

Civil litigation against law enforcement agencies is escalating across the nation, with thousands of civil rights lawsuits filed annually against public safety organizations. Many of these lawsuits center on allegations of negligent policies, insufficient training, or inadequate supervision. When agency policies are absent, vague, or fail to align with applicable law, organizational exposure and liability increase significantly.

This challenge is particularly acute for smaller and mid-sized agencies that often operate with limited legal resources, no dedicated policy development unit, outdated policy documents, expanding operational responsibilities, and heightened public accountability expectations.

This training equips public safety leaders with a systematic approach to building robust policy frameworks that safeguard the organization, support staff, and minimize civil liability exposure. Participants will develop the knowledge and tools needed to create comprehensive, defensible policy systems.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Analyze civil liability risks connected to agency policies and operational decisions
• Identify negligence exposure resulting from outdated, ambiguous, or non-compliant policies
• Apply legal standards governing organizational liability, including principles from Monell v. Department of Social Services and officer protections outlined in Harlow v. Fitzgerald
• Evaluate Labor Relations and Employee Rights considerations when creating and enforcing policies
• Address Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Policy requirements for public safety operations
• Differentiate between constitutional law requirements, professional standards, and departmental policy mandates
• Identify stakeholders impacted by policy systems, including personnel, supervisors, leadership, judicial bodies, and the public
• Create clear, consistent policy formats that promote accountability and uniformity
• Integrate legal requirements and practical operational considerations into policy language
• Develop policies addressing vulnerable populations such as juveniles, individuals with disabilities, and those in mental health crisis situations
• Recognize supervisor accountability and potential liability for policy non-compliance
• Execute policies through training, oversight, and performance evaluation strategies
• Design practical policy solutions that mitigate risk in high-liability operational areas
• Create a defensible policy document using structured policy development methodology

This comprehensive training provides agencies with a clear framework for writing, implementing, and sustaining defensible policies—transforming policy administration from administrative paperwork into a strategic risk management tool.