Guest OpEd by Lt. Joseph Pangaro, CPM, CSO, MOI
Training, a definition: “Training is teaching, or developing in oneself or others, any skills and knowledge or fitness that relate to specific useful competencies. Training has specific goals of improving one’s capability, capacity, productivity and performance.”
That’s a nice definition I found on Wikipedia, and I think it encapsulates the essence of training very well. When it comes to training law enforcement officers, all of those factors are important, and I would add to the definition, “instilling concepts in the learner” as well.
We want our law enforcement professionals to be able to not only react to what’s going on around them, but to understand why. Understanding why a person is behaving in a certain way or acting out in a certain way can help in decision making.
When it comes to the life and death decisions that our officers are often put in the position to make, we want to give them all the tools we can so they can make good decisions.
(For example, Pangaro Police Training and True Security Design is offering De-Escalation Training for police officers and their departments. Courtesy of True Security Design and YouTube.)
True Security Design and our Pangaro Training Division are dedicated to providing every one of our students with the physical and mental skills they need to properly serve their communities and safeguard life and property, including their own lives.
Our training programs are designed to give our students an understanding of the purpose for a particular skill, as well as a historical background on why that skill is needed.
What comes to mind right away is the sea change in the way law enforcement responds to a domestic violence incident when we treat them as “family matters,” or the way we respond to an active shooter incident by slowly searching the building room by room.
Reality and a changing understanding of dynamics forced us to make these changes based on seeing the events differently than we did in the past, and then adapting what we do to respond to them so we can better control and provide a more enlightened police service.
Quality change comes from having a greater knowledge base to work from.
Police work is ever-evolving based on changes in our society, our needs as a people, and a greater understanding of how people interact with one another.
In our modern world, that change has come at us fast and furiously and it is our obligation to adapt and provide the best training we can to the men and women who walk a beat, push a radio car, secure our prisons, and investigate crime.
Better training also benefits our communities – a well-trained, intelligent police officer can be a great asset to a community and part of a better world for everyone.
(Lt. Pangaro stresses the importance of choosing the right people to join your law enforcement agency. True Security Design offers a course in pre-employment background investigations- both remote and live! Courtesy of True Security Design and YouTube.)
True Security Design and our Pangaro Training realized that most of the training available to the police community is out of date, tired, stale and consists of “death by PowerPoint,” and that is not a winning scenario.
Our courses use live role players whenever possible to bring the training and learning to life for the officers by putting them in a position to have to use their new skills in a realistic interaction.
Our role players are professional actors that we have trained to respond properly to the officers in the scenarios, for a process that challenges the officers, making them think and react properly.
Training realistically is the best kind of training.
During this COVID19 pandemic, we had to adapt our training programs to the shutdowns and inabilities to get together live and in-person. We began providing our training as live remote online programs complete with the role players.
Since September 2020, our students have rated this training as “excellent,” and many of the chiefs have said they like the live remote training because their officers don’t have to travel or take cars out of town.
Based on this feedback, we will offer all of our live, in-person classes with a remote option for agencies that don’t want to have their officers on the road.
As training continues to evolve, not just in the topics but in the way it is presented and absorbed, True Security Design is on the forefront of this new wave of training.
The next thing we decided to address was the cost of training. Quality training can be expensive. As a former training officer for a police agency, I know how hard it is to get all of our officers trained when our budgets won’t allow it.
Does that mean that every officer in agency does not deserve to get the best possible training opportunities? Of course it doesn’t, but how can we bridge that gap?
True Security Design and our Pangaro Training have created a realistic, high-quality solution for every law enforcement agency in the country. We have created the True Security Design “Police Training Subscription Plan.”
(Addressing the entire officer, the mind, the body, and the spirit of your people is not just a good idea, it should be the focus. This on-demand police training subscription does exactly that! Courtesy of True Security Design and YouTube.)
This subscription plan combines the need for every officer to get quality training with the technology of the digital world. For one low price of $1995.00 per department, not per officer, every officer in an agency gets access to our programs.
A subscription consists of a new major training video each month on topics such as de-escalation, interview techniques, juvenile investigations, community policing strategies and much more.
In addition to the main video, our subscribers get extra bonus videos on other important police topics such as ethics, statement taking, explosives awareness, and human trafficking awareness.
Because we understand the mindset of the officers on the job today, we have added articles from seasoned police veterans on officer safety, wellness of heart and mind, responding to dangerous calls, and more.
The subscription comes with exclusive bi-weekly podcasts to keep the learning going, and 2-3 briefing training topics so that time can be used to benefit your officers.
Our programs address patrol officers, detectives, and supervisors.
And one more thing we have added: we address the realities of life in a law enforcement career and the stress that goes with it by adding what we call “Gurus.”
These contributors address the heart and soul, and mind and body of our officers with articles and videos on mental health wellness, physical fitness, and stress coping mechanisms. With police suicide being a real concern, this content helps address many of the issues that lead to those tragic events with the hope of preventing them.
True Security Design and our Pangaro Training are dedicated to bringing quality, timely, and valuable training to your officers through multiple learning options that they can access 24/7.
While Law Enforcement is where we began our teaching journey, we have grown and expanded to include our school and business sector training divisions to bring these groups and organizations the safety and security training they also need and deserve.
For our schools, we set out to help with the growing VAPING crisis. Vaping is not safer than smoking cigarettes, and in fact, can be just as dangerous to the students’ health.
To address this concern, we created a series of programs we can run live, in- person or via an online, on-demand video training subscriptions for the schools. Our programs are designed with tailored content for specific groups: the school staff, the parents, and the students.
(True Security Design is now offering remote training for schools, businesses, and religious organizations. Courtesy of True Security Design and YouTube.)
Much like our police subscription, the school subscription is packed with content. We include school security articles and security tips, as well as our blog “From the Security Directors Desk” to help schools stay current on all things safety and security.
We also have a series of short security training topics on video we call “Hope is Not a Tactic.” These consist of interviews with experts in the field of school security, as well as pieces on school security equipment and tactics.
All of this is designed to make the training easy to acquire and valuable to the day-to- day operation of a safe and secure school.
And finally, we turned our attention to the business and religious communities to help address the reality of workplace violence. Our training programs here can also delivered as live, in-person programs or via online on-demand video productions.
We cover topics such as de-escalation training, active shooter preparedness and response, internal investigations and identifying and preventing harassment.
All of this training is designed to make a better, safer world, a better trained law enforcement officer, and a safer school. We look to the needs of these groups and provide them with solutions to help make their everyday activities more valuable.
True Security Design and our Pangaro Training, we are your partners in safety and security.
To Learn More about our wide-range of offerings, please visit www.TrueSecurityDesign.com.
About the Author
Lt. Joseph Pangaro (ret) is a 27 year veteran law enforcement officer. He served in the patrol bureau, the detective bureau, and the administration bureau. He is an FBI trained hostage crisis negotiator and Homeland security trained threat assessor.
Lt. Pangaro also served as the Director of School Security for a large school district in NJ. He has been teaching and training police officers, school personnel and members of the business community since 2006.
Lt. Pangaro is the author of three books and an award winning columnist.
Joseph Pangaro Recognized in 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program
American Security Today’s ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards program is today in its Sixth Year and continues to recognize the Outstanding Innovations of top firms and agencies in the Homeland Security and Public Safety fields.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
American Security Today is pleased to announce TSA Administrator David Pekoske, will join the organization as a featured speaker at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Presentation Luncheon, on November 18, 2021 at ISC East in New York City.
“On the heels of an unprecedented global pandemic, continued unrest in our cities and potentially catastrophic cyberattacks on our nations critical infrastructure, the focus of the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon will be on the latest, state-of-the-art innovations that are driving investments in new public security and safety technologies and systems,” said AST Editorial and Managing Director Tammy Waitt.
“As a recognized expert in crisis management, strategic planning, innovation and aviation, surface transportation and maritime security, David Pekoske’s message highlighting his top priorities and challenges for the TSA based on his years of wide-ranging experience will be critical to our attendees internalizing the critical nature of these escalating challenges, and realizing innovative new approaches to meet them.”
Joseph Pangaro
Excellence in Public Safety
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CEO at True Security Design
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As the owner and CEO of Pangaro Training and Management, Joseph Pangaro, concentrates on providing the best and most up to date training programs for the Law Enforcement, School and Business communities.
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True Security Design (TSD) law enforcement training programs are centered around supporting today’s modern professionals’ by teaching them vital skills through courses designed to engage and empower its participants.
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A 27-year veteran police lieutenant and experienced school security director, Lt. Pangaro is uniquely qualified to provide law enforcement training programs that are centered around supporting today’s modern professionals’ by teaching them vital skills through courses designed to engage and empower its participants.
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Pangaro Training also teaches in police academies and police agencies throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
The 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by AMAROK and SIMS Software, along with Returning Premier Sponsors
ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, and Reed Exhibitions.
Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.
Comprehensive List of Categories Include:
| Access Control/ Identification | Personal/Protective Equipment | Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism |
| Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System | Interagency Interdiction Operation | Cloud Computing/Storage Solution |
| Facial/IRIS Recognition | Body Worn Video Product | Cyber Security |
| Video Surveillance/VMS | Mobile Technology | Anti-Malware |
| Audio Analytics | Disaster Preparedness | ID Management |
| Thermal/Infrared Camera | Mass Notification System | Fire & Safety |
| Metal/Weapon Detection | Rescue Operations | Critical Infrastructure |
| License Plate Recognition | Detection Products | And Many Others! |
| COVID Innovations | And Many Others! |
Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?
With the unprecedented occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of the safety and security industries has realized the need to increase innovations to address the daily growing challenges.
As such AST aims to make sure these firms and professionals are reflected in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, so we’d like to encourage you to submit appropriate categories recommendations and include COVID-19 Frontline Professionals in your Nominations to see that these Professionals, Facilities, and Vendors receive the Recognition they Deserve!
Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
Register for the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon Today
At ISC East 2021 you with the opportunity to interact with a broad array of security industry professionals.
ISC East works closely with other businesses in the security and public safety space to help bring together the Northeast’s largest security trade show each year.
In collaboration with premier sponsor SIA (Security Industry Association) and in partnership with ASIS NYC, ISC East is proud to work with and be supported by various associations, trade publications, charities, and more.
Therefore, the ISC audience of security dealers, installers, integrators, consultants, corporate, government and law enforcement/first responder practitioners will be joined by the ASIS NYC audience of major corporate managerial-through-director-level national and global security executives.
The combination of one-on-one conversations with the industry’s top innovators, integrators and security executives, special events, high-quality education and training, and strong support from industry associations, will allow attendees to learn and evaluate solutions from leading security exhibitors and brands.
Your ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon registration includes complimentary attendee access to ISC East – Thank take advantage of this exclusive luncheon opportunity to take a break from the show – Invite your team, guests, clients and show visitors to a lovely and affordable plated meal event in the heart of New York City, for a fabulous networking opportunity!
Go to https://americansecuritytoday.com/product/awards-luncheon/ to secure your seat or reserve a table.
***Limited space available so Register Today. There will be no on-site registrations.
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
The AST Digital Publications is distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state and local levels.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state and local level as well as from private firms allied to government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, Check Out the New 2020 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2020 ‘A Year in Review’.
The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of the ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firms products and services, includes video interviews and more.
It is your Go-To source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2020 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
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For a complete list of 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, click here.
For more information on All Things American Security Today, and the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
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