Building Search

Law Enforcement Event

Updated on April 1st, 2023

This event will consist of a 4-person team with one person designated as the lead officer to the Judge. The team will be dispatched a scenario that will require them to enter and clear a building with an open door. The team will advise dispatch they are on scene, approach the building, safely enter, search and secure the building along with any suspects. The scenario will require the use of critical thinking skills. The performance will be timed and evaluated according to the event guidelines. This event will encourage students to improve their officer safety, search, and decision-making skills in a manner that will challenge them in real-world law enforcement scenarios.

Team Size/Limit Information

Dress Code

Competitors shall wear a uniform consistent with current standards in law enforcement patrol. The student shall wear a duty belt and flashlight throughout the duration of this event.

Materials

Competitors are required to provide the following materials for the duration of the competitive event. No additional materials may be used that are not in the material list.

• Photo Identification qt. 1

  Reference https://tpsa.info/policies for more information

Policies

• Competitors in this event must be active members of the Texas Public Safety Association and in good standing with the Texas Public Safety Association.
• Competitors must be familiar with and adhere to the Texas Safety Service Association Bylaws and Code of Conduct.
• Plagiarism, copyright violation and falsification of information are prohibited. Any attempt to gain an unfair advantage will not be tolerated. Violation of the code of conduct or bylaws will result in disqualification and revocation of Texas Public Safety Association membership.
• The scenario is a secret topic. Professional ethics demand that competitors DO NOT discuss or reveal the secret topic until after the event has concluded. Violation of the ethics rules will result in disqualification and revocation of Texas Public Safety Association membership.
• Hostage negotiation scenarios or no-win scenarios are prohibited for this event.
• Teams are prohibited from breaking glass, windows, doors, etc, during the event. Such activity will result in a DQ and the competitor’s school being responsible for any damages.
• Flash bangs, live munitions, or any type of projectiles are prohibited during the event. Use of any of these items will result in a DQ and the competitor’s school being responsible for any damages.
• Teams are prohibited from causing injury to any of the actors, this will result in a DQ.
• Competitors will hand off detained suspects to a “ghost officer” by verbalizing this action to the judge. The actors will be considered out of “play” after this has happened.
• If at any point during the event, an actor is within arms reach of the competitor, and the competitor is displaying unsafe firearm safety procedures, the actor may attempt to disarm the officer by grabbing the firearm. This may not result in a struggle, and the actor shall not fight for the firearm.
• Actors must be compliant with commands given by competitors except as stated above.
• Judges will wear reflective vests and shall not be given commands by competitors.

Procedures

1. Competitor(s)/Team(s) will report to their respective event when called for or at a set reporting time.
2. Competitor(s)/Team(s) must check in with event management upon arrival and present photo identification for verification.
3. Competitor(s)/Team(s) will be directed (by room moderator) into the event room.
4. Instructions will be given (by room moderator) to the Competitor(s)/Team(s).
5. Upon the team’s arrival at the staging area, the event moderator will give them a brief overview of the information pertinent to the scenario. The scenario shall be the same for each team. No exceptions.
6. A fifteen (15) minute maximum time limit has been set for the scenario, this time includes the planning and execution. Timing will begin when the Judge advises the Lead Officer to start.
7. The Lead Officer must advise dispatch (the judge) that the "Scene is Secure/Suspect(s) in custody” in order to stop the time.
8. Competitors will be stopped at the end of the fifteen (15) minute time limit by the event moderator if the Lead Officer has not advised dispatch and judge that the scene is secure/suspect(s) in custody.
9. If a team has not successfully completed the search within the 15 minute time frame, the team will receive a “Did Not Finish” (DNF) and be disqualified (DQ).

Staff Instructions

People

• Judgeqt. 3
• Managerqt. 1
• Moderatorqt. 1
• Actorqt. 1-3

Space/Location/Rooms

• Multiple Connected Rooms Indoor

Supplies

• Timer qt. 1
• Simulated weapons qt. 1
• Reflective Safety Vests for Judges qt. 1
• Materials to black out room, if necessary qt. 1
• Rubric/Score Sheets qt. 1