While our general philosophy on human behavior threat management is built within Tactical Behavioral Science, the training that brings it all together is called Field Observable Cues for Unknown Situations (FOCUS).
This isn’t your typical human behavior class; it’s a validated system that provides law enforcement and public safety with specific actions to take based on the behaviors they observe.
With FOCUS implemented, personnel no longer have to write terms like “furtive gestures” or describe behaviors that they hope others will understand.
FOCUS was developed based on the largest research project ever conducted, which examined hundreds of law enforcement encounters and the behaviors that preceded them.
With the FOCUS System, officers no longer have to guess or hope what they are seeing is dangerous… they will know based on the research.
FOCUS System In Action
A section within the FOCUS System is the Focus Risk Index (FRI), which assigns a numerical value to observed behaviors and helps officers document what they are seeing and why they took the action they did.
The FOCUS Risk Index (FRI) is a standardized, numerical rating (0–10) generated from the FOCUS System based on observable behavioral indicators and amplifiers present during an encounter.
The FRI converts officer observations into a documented risk score and corresponding risk band: Green (0–3), Amber (4–6), Red (7–10). The FRI is designed to
(1) support sound decision-making
(2) improve consistency between officers
(3) enhance post-incident review and articulation.
We believe this research and accompanying training are generational and will shift the profession toward a safety protocol that saves the lives of both officers and suspects.
If you would like to know how to bring FOCUS to your agency or conference, contact us at www.tacbehavior.com