Okay, the short version of my problem (a good problem though!) started last Friday when our Firearms instructor resigned. Our department is small with about 40 officers. He was our only instructor and he mentioned me to replace him... (he's a great guy and tough shoes to fill!) My Lt called me Friday and said to think about and get with him today. Monday. Because I'm excited, I was at his office at 8:00 today on my day off and in a matter of 20 mintues, he said okay and got me enrolled in a "instructor development course" that started today. I flew to the class and got in after missing about an hour of class.

Here's the problem. We have to take this class to become instructors before we can go on to learn to teach our respective areas, mine being firearms. Each person in the class is given a topic to give a 50 minute class on. Mine is "Interview Techniques." It's not so much the information as it is how it's presented. Part of my problem is that I've been on the department for a little over two years and most of the people in this class have MANY years on. I want to do a good job and not look like an idiot because I don't know much about Interview Techniques. (they will know if I'm trying to BS what I don't know.) I was hoping someone here could point me to some sites to gather a little information to help me out. I was brainstorming and have several ideas of points to cover like kids v adults for example but any additional help would be great! I may not be able to get back on here until Tuesday nite but thanks for any help! (I'll also be checking with guys in my office for help too!)

not a website, but if I can find em, i can give you the titles to a couple good text books on that very subject. Interview and Interrogation was a course I had to take when going to school for my ACJ degree (still need to finish that...:( ) - my class was taught by a retired feeb, damn good at teaching them. I'll look tomorrow for the books, and let you know the titles. You should be able to find or order them thru any college/community college book store, or get them from Borders. They can do an ISBN lookup & order if necessary. The books aren't thick - they're easy to read, but pack a lot of good info into as few words as possible (the best kind of text book!)

Slash I wish I had seen this earlier but I didnt. The way I wa staught to do interviews was to sit in one a few different peoples interviews and determine that good points from each of those interviews. Next you find a way to work those points into your interviews and refine them.

The actual art of interviewing is as varied as the people who do them. I have personally attended about four different classes on interviewing.

Thanks for the replies. I did ask one of the guys from my dept (hes actually the one I'm replacing as FA inst) and he loaned me a GREAT book on the "Reid Technique." I could just about do the entire lecture (for over a DAY) on this one book. I put together my outline tonight and have a pretty good idea of my material now. I may add a little more if the instructors don't think it will be enough.



Thanks for a great point. I'll be sure to add that to my presentation that it IS an art form and takes a long time to master!

I'll keep you posted on how the class goes! Thanks again!

Slash-

I am a little late to the party, but I am an instructor. As long as you have the basics down, the material will flow. All our POST presentations are required to have a learning activity. This will usually eat up some time and take the focus off of you. I try to make mine as interactive as possible. For recruits I like doing group problem solving, "game shows" (There are free computer programs that work with powerpoint,) and contests with prizes. For in-service group scenarios, role players and video critiques work well.

Don't forget to mine Google, YouTube and Break.com for videos and movie clips to spice up your PPT. Cops love funny or gruesome videos

Good luck!

The class is all done! I did pretty good on my presentation. One guy from our class didn't pass. Now I'm in the process of finding out when I can finish up my instructor certification and when I can practice on the range before I have to qualify to get INTO teh firearms instructor class. It's a lot of hoops but I think it will be worth it!