Strategies & Tactics of Patrol Stops Instructor, Crawfordsville Police Department- STI2026-13
2026-06-15 08:00 - 2026-06-17 16:00 UTC | Crawfordsville, IN (STOPS Course Location) Crawfordsville Police Department (1201 Elmore St, Crawfordsville, IN 47933, USA)
About this course
'STOPS saves Cops....' - Ron Hantz
Course Overview
There are nearly 4500 STOPS Instructors throughout the United States. Officers completing this course will be certified to INSTRUCT officers in the STOPS officer survival program. Upon completion of the STOPS program, your officers will be able to execute vehicle stops SAFELY, pedestrian contacts, commercial vehicle stops, vehicle extractions, drug interdiction stops, and high-risk (felony) stops. Officers will be trained in risk assessments and proven methods to counter felonious and accidental assaults. Vehicle stops will be broken into 12 ambush zones for the officer to be aware of and escape techniques to counter assaults.
The STOPS program is based on research from officers injured or killed in the line of duty. We then developed strategies and tactics that countered the assaults, significantly increasing the officer’s survival probability. The STOPS program is nationally and internationally recognized as the leading program in tactical/officer survival training available.
Vehicle stops will be divided into low-risk, unknown-risk, and high-risk. Each category has pre-planned options to minimize the chances of being assaulted by both accidental and felonious means. The officer’s goal during the course is to always think about the safest way to deal with every situation while recognizing danger cues. STOPS students will dominate through superior training and a warrior mindset when an assault is attempted.
STOPS training is realistic with both classroom and dynamic field exercises. These classes will also include our bonus force-on-force training. Upon obtaining instructor-level certification, instructors will be certified to teach the “STOPS Tactical” Officers Survival System for 36 months.

What will the student learn?

Introduction to Strategies & Tactics of Patrol Stops
Low-Risk Stops (4 approach patterns)
Unknown Risk Stops ( 2 patterns)
When Risk Factors Change (Escape from the 12 ambush zones)
High-Risk Stops
Commercial Vehicle Stops
Tactical Stops for Motorcycle Officers
Pedestrian Stops
Tactical Drug Interdiction Stops
Tactical Two Officer Deployments
Tactical Vehicle Extractions
Ambush Tactics for Undercover Units
Subject Control Tactics for Stops
Survival Mindset
Legal Issues / Use of Force
Firearms Training
Simulated Training Scenarios
Pursuits and Accident Scene Control
Report writing and Courtroom Testimony
Instructor Protocols

What will the student be required to do?

Conduct tactical traffic stops with officer survival being the foremost concern.
Counter both accidental and felonious assaults
Assess the risks and recognize the threat cues by both the driver and passengers
Safely position the police and violator vehicles.
Safely approach vehicles and keep control while making contact with the vehicle occupants.
Safely conduct commercial vehicle traffic stops
Tactically conduct high-risk stops
Counter ambush assaults
Escape from the 12 ambush zones
Safely conduct drug interdiction stops
Avoid citizen complaints and conflicts with violators

Course Breakdown
Train Hard * Train to Win
Course Intensity This course is mid-level intensity. The content and pace of this course will be challenging for most students.
Physically Demanding This course combines lectures and outdoor practical applications. The outdoor practicals will require physical exertion, fast movements in and out of the vehicles, and running and cover/concealment movements. Several days of training will take place outside, even in inclement weather.
Mentally ChallengingThe student will be challenged mentally in conducting rapid assessments of violators while being required to move and remain tactical physically. This will be very challenging for some students who lack movement and shooting drills.
Core BuildingPolice Officers engage in deploying from patrol vehicles numerous times every shift. Studies have shown this is one of the most dangerous duties of an officer. The STOPS course will provide officers with the tactics to recognize threat cues and concepts. They will leave with a superior skill set to counter felonious and accidental assaults. This mental and physical skill set provides a safer tour of duty for the officer and all other officers they later train.

Student Take Away

Provide Officers with the tactics and skill set needed to conduct vehicle safely traffics stops.
Tactics, if implemented, will reduce department liability and complaints on officers.
Proven techniques of necessary survival tactics for both vehicular and felonious assaults.

Course Accreditation/Certification/Completion

The student will receive a certificate of Instructor level course completion.

Course Hours

(4-day) 32-hour course. or (3-day) 32-hour
Re-certification is required every 36 months.

Required Course Equipment
Attending students will need to be enrolled individually and online. The student must provide proof of employment by credentials, work-verified email, or authorization from their agency’s training coordinator. All students must be on duty and not forced to attend the training course.
Students are required to bring the following equipment with them to class.

Duty Belt
Dress for outdoor tactical training in comfortable clothing that may get dirty or damaged

**No live weapons, chemical agents, or intermediate weapons are allowed in the training area** https://www.protraininc.com/course-info/course-calendar/event/430-strategies-tactics-of-patrol-stops-instructor-crawfordsville-police-department-sti2026-13

STOPS Tactical Criminal Interdiction, Johnson County Sheriff- STC2026-04
2026-06-18 08:00 - 2026-06-19 16:00 | Franklin, IN - (Tactical Course Location) Johnson County Sheriff (1061 Hospital Rd, Franklin, IN 46131, USA)
About this course
“Good tactics can save even the worst strategy. Bad tactics will destroy even the best strategy.” -George S. Patton
Course Overview Interdiction is widely taught across the country. Various classes teach on this topic, whether learning “The Drive” or employing a high volume of stops. However, the “tactics” to keep the interdiction officer safe are constantly overlooked or rarely highlighted. STOPS Tactical Criminal Interdiction is a training program that stresses proactive officers’ safety, giving them a foundation for success in the interdiction world.
STOPS Tactical Criminal Interdiction focuses on tactics the proactive officer should utilize when seeking the criminal element. We have developed a tactical course that breaks the stop/contact into three parts: the beginning, middle, and end of contact. Using these concentrated training areas; we can identify where tactics need to override habit, routine, and complacency. While taking drugs, guns, and criminals off our roads is pivotal to interdiction, it is more important to get home to loved ones at the end of the shift. This course outlines practical and easy-to-implement tactics to employ when hunting down criminals in your jurisdiction. With a combination of classroom and outdoor instruction, this course will cover the rapid assessment needed to categorize a traffic stop properly. We will highlight several tactics taught in the STOPS program, including an in-depth breakdown of Unknown Risk Stops. Using these proven tactics can accentuate the ability to read verbal and non-verbal cues of criminal activity. While this is not a class covering specifics of a roadside interview or hidden compartments, it is an overview of interdiction, where to employ it, and the differences between street and highway interdiction. Tactics taught here work in either application.
What will the student learn?

Approach patterns on a traffic stop with emphasis on the passenger-side approach.
Walk-Back and Walk-Thru patterns used taught in STOPS Unknown-Risk techniques.
How to determine between a Low-Risk and Unknown-Risk traffic stop.
How to escape from Ambush Positions, which are outlined in the classroom.
How to safely search under consent and proper placement of violator(s) and back-up.
Case law pertinent to stopping vehicles and then leading into a consensual or PC search.

What will the student be required to do?

The student will learn from a structured PowerPoint in the classroom covering facts and outlines of tactics to be employed later in outdoor/field training. There will be a breakdown of several vital videos showing why these tactics are necessary for successful interdiction.
This course combines classroom and outdoor activities to keep the student engaged and interested in learning concepts to enhance their ability to seek out the criminal element, quickly identify it, and be prepared if a lethal force encounter occurs

Course Breakdown
Train Hard * Train to Win
Course Intensity The content and pace of this course will be challenging for most students. Some videos in this course may shock those with a more sensitive conscience.
Physically Demanding This course’s style combines classroom lectures and outdoor practical applications; the student must successfully demonstrate the ability to escape from ambush zones.
Mentally Challenging Seeking out the criminal that has masked himself within the general innocent motoring public is not easy. Conducting rapid assessments of violators while also staying tactical is challenging and will be addressed throughout this training course. Students will analyze situations represented in videos and reach conclusions about safer tactics to use while conducting interdiction stops.
Core Building Proactive officers engage in traffic stops daily. Now, more than ever, officers dealing with the public on traffic stops or other calls for service are under the microscope. Completing this course will provide students with a foundation rooted in safe tactics and professionalism that will lead to successful interactions with criminals and the innocent motoring public.

Student Take Away

Several approach patterns for initial walk-up to a violator and options for calling the violator back to the patrol vehicle
A clear understanding of interdiction, why it is needed, and the differences between street and highway interdiction
Recognizing ambush zones and quickly escaping them in a lethal force confrontation
A safe and effective way to search vehicles while in contact with a violator

Course Accreditation/Certification/Completion

The student will receive a certificate of course completion.

Course Hours

1, 2, or three-day course options available. Refer to the listed dates and times for the specific hours for this course.
No Re-certification is required.

Required Course Equipment
Attending students will need to be enrolled individually and online. The student must provide proof of employment by credentials, work-verified email, or authorization from their agency’s training coordinator. All students must be on duty and not forced to attend the training course.
Students are required to bring the following equipment with them to class.

There are no required items to bring to this course.

**No live weapons, chemical agents, or intermediate weapons are allowed in the training area** https://www.protraininc.com/course-info/course-calendar/event/431-stops-tactical-criminal-interdiction-johnson-county-sheriff-stc2026-04

Tactical Counter Ambush for (Wooden / Obstructed) Terrain - Hamilton County Sheriff - TCAWT2026-01
2026-06-18 08:00 - 16:00 | Noblesville, IN (Tactical Course Location) Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (18106 Cumberland Rd, Noblesville, IN 46060, USA)
About this course
“Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby, you can be the director of the opponent's fate.” - Sun Tzu
Course Overview
Ambush assaults on Law Enforcement have risen drastically in the last several years. Ambush assaults are also related to Active Shooter incidents statistics, which show an even more significant increase in recorded incidents in the previous several years. These stats are even more alarming when we consider the degree of injury and the total number of victims when the assailant has the advantage of choosing the location, terrain, timing, and weapon of choice for their attack.
In our search for continuous development of the most advanced and cutting-edge training in law enforcement, we encountered this increased area of assault on officers. As we do with all of our training, we went directly to the officers involved, studied their incidents, and saw a need to develop a new course focusing on how to counter ambush-style assaults on law enforcement. Tactical Counter Ambush for Wooden Terrian (8hr) is the first course derived from our findings.
This course covers paramilitary and law enforcement tactics for identifying, reacting to, countering, engaging, and defeating threats. All the modules will enhance the officer's ability to perceive threats, evaluate vulnerabilities before they are exploited, and act as individuals or ad hoc teams under fire.
Low-light training, both with visible light and night vision, is available with prior coordination.
What will the student learn?

Introduction to terrain evaluation related to possible ambush.
Threat assessment based on environmental concerns
Movement and movement techniques in and through rough terrain.
Communication skills based on the environment.
React to Contact & Counter- Ambush drills.
Tactical threat engagement techniques.
Introduction to Patrolling techniques for ambush mindset.
Employment of Patrol Rifle for Applied Marksmanship (Dry Fire).
Report writing & courtroom testimony for ambush incidents .

What will the student be required to do?

Demonstrate an understanding of maneuver principles (classroom and practicals on terrain).
Assess risks and threat cues by both persons and natural terrain.
Demonstrate proficiency in coordinating movements with assigned communications equipment.
Physically move using tactical individual movement techniques situations.
Display proficiency in dry fire rifle shooting from field positions while standing, supported, kneeling, and prone.

Course Breakdown
Train Hard * Train to Win
Course Intensity The content and pace of this course will be challenging for most students. Some content may shock those with a more sensitive conscience.
Physically Demanding This course combines lectures, tabletop drills, and outdoor practical applications. The outdoor practicals require physical exertion while making fast movements across natural terrain. Students are required to run to their chosen cover/concealment location while being pushed mentally and physically. Outdoor training will take place even in inclement weather.
Mentally Challenging The student will be challenged mentally to conduct rapid assessments of the environment and people while being required to move and remain physically tactical. This will be very challenging for some students who lack shooting skills while moving.
Core BuildingThey will leave with a superior skill set to identify potential threat indicators, react to the threat, and take back the tactical initiative to stop the threat and protect the public and each other! This revised mental and physical skill set gives the officer a tactical approach to their call responses. If the officer applies his newly learned tactics to his tour of duty, he will be a better lead for his shift and agency.

Student Take Away

A tactical skill set needed for warrant service and unknown risk calls in rural terrain.
Tactics, if implemented, will position officers for less risk of ambush when responding to calls in rural settings.
Proven techniques to tactically counter ambush attempts and techniques to engage active shooter incidents with a defeat-the-threat mindset.
Mastery of basic drills for individuals & teams necessary for mental and physical survival in an intermediate-range engagement.

Course Accreditation/Certification/Completion

The student will receive a certificate of course completion and proficiency upon request.

Course Hours

(1 day) 8-hour course.
No Re-certification is required.

Required Course Equipment
Attending students will need to be enrolled individually and online. The student must provide proof of employment by credentials, work-verified email, or authorization from their agency’s training coordinator. All students must be on duty and not forced to attend the training course. Students will be required to complete several liability waivers.
Students are required to bring the following equipment with them to class.

Duty Weapon. Duty positioning of their weapon, either full belt or side holster, must be what they wear daily. This training is for how they encounter assailants daily, so uniform of the day (weapon placement only) is required.
Patrol carbine/ rifles
Individual First Aid Kit/tourniquet.
Dress for outdoor tactical training in comfortable clothing that will get dirty and possibly damaged
OSHA-approved Eye and ear protection,if Simms is being used during this course of instruction.

**No live weapons, chemical agents, or intermediate weapons are allowed in the training area before inspection and clearance by the range safety instructor** https://www.protraininc.com/course-info/course-calendar/event/432-tactical-counter-ambush-for-wooden-obstructed-terrain-hamilton-county-sheriff-tcawt2026-01
