Independent review report: RCMP Initial Critical Incident Response 100 and 200 – Training compliance and assessment

List of acronyms and abbreviations

ICIR: Initial Critical Incident Response
RCMP: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Why this study

In its Final Report, the Mass Casualty Commission recommended that the RCMP "[…] commission an external expert review of its Initial Critical Incident Response training for front-line supervisors." Further, the recommendation states that the report is to be completed and posted on the RCMP's public website within six months of the publication of the Mass Casualty Commission's Final Report, which was released on March 30, 2023. The RCMP fully accepted the recommendation, and engaged a recognized external consultancy firm with the requisite expertise to advance this effort.

What we did

As outlined in the statement of work, the external experts were asked to review:

whether the Initial Critical Incident Response 100 and 200 courses adequately equip front-line supervisors to exercise initial command until an accredited critical incident commander takes command (noting that present RCMP practice means that it may be several hours before a critical incident commander assumes command)
the rate of compliance with mandatory training requirements among front-line supervisors
whether the existing Initial Critical Incident Response 200 course adequately equips front-line supervisors to exercise initial command until an accredited critical incident commander takes command
the rate of completion of Initial Critical Incident Response 200 among front-line supervisors
whether Initial Critical Incident Response 200 should be mandatory for front-line supervisors, with or without amendments

What we found

The report offered two key findings and 25 continuous improvement opportunities or recommendations.

Key finding 1: Initial Critical Incident Response 100

Although the Initial Critical Incident Response 100 is a pre-requisite course for the Initial Critical Incident Response 200 and is considered a building block for the Initial Critical Incident Response 200, the concepts introduced in the Initial Critical Incident Response 100 are designed to provide awareness for the learner. The course delivery format (on-line) cannot be relied upon for learning, knowledge retention, and application of the key concepts introduced. However, initial awareness of the Initial Critical Incident Response process can optimize the Initial Critical Incident Response 200 course delivery.

Key finding 2: Initial Critical Incident Response 200

The method of instruction for the Initial Critical Incident Response 200 is consistent with theories of adult learning and knowledge retention. In consideration of the stated key objectives and expectation that the candidate will establish command and control until relieved by a Critical Incident Commander, the course content does not address many key fundamental requirements of command and control.

Fundamental concepts of command must be deliberately taught for understanding and retention and have not been addressed sufficiently in the Initial Critical Incident Response 200 course. These concepts are fundamental to support the basic decision making that is required to provide command and control of a critical incident. They provide the tools necessary to successfully adapt, improvise, and overcome different situations even at the basic level of expertise. Without these fundamental concepts, the responder cannot be expected to establish command and control of a critical incident until the arrival of the Critical Incident Commander.

In addition to the content, the limited time spent practicing and rehearsing command responsibilities during table-tops or practice scenarios does not provide the individual learner with the full benefit of this method of instruction.

Expansion of the course content to include fundamental command concepts and extending the course to 5 days is recommended. Maintaining the current RCMP policy support for mandated attendance by front line supervisors will continue to demonstrate that the initial critical incident response is an organizational priority for the RCMP.

Continuous improvement opportunities

The Review Team provides the following recommendations in the spirit of continuous improvement and recognizes that the implementation of these recommendations is at the discretion of the RCMP.

Initial Critical Incident Response 100 – The Initial Critical Incident Response 100 should not be considered as stand-alone training without changes in course delivery
Initial Critical Incident Response 100 – E-learning should focus on general concepts only and remain at the introductory level
Initial Critical Incident Response 100 – Addition of Missing Person Response and Public Disorder response for awareness
Initial Critical Incident Response 100 – Addition of basic scene management principles for awareness
Initial Critical Incident Response 100 – Addition of other command systems such as Incident Command System 100 for awareness
Initial Critical Incident Response 100 – Addition of "Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration, Command, Control, Communication" briefing format as a tool for information management - introduce as a key concept to be learned in the Initial Critical Incident Response 200
Initial Critical Incident Response 100 – Continued awareness around decision-making tools such as “safety priorities” and introduce "Necessary, Risk-effective, Acceptable"
Initial Critical Incident Response 100 – Concepts should be reviewed/reinforced regularly and at every opportunity through group discussions (for example, during patrol briefings) or with the help of subject matter experts
Initial Critical Incident Response 100 – Consideration should be given to delivering the Initial Critical Incident Response 100 course in person at Depot with an improved format directed at adult learning of content rather than awareness
Introduce Initial Critical Incident Response thought process during Incident Management Intervention Model training and reinforce at block training, and recertification
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Provide additional job aids to candidates upon course completion. "Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration, Command, Control, Communication"; "Necessary, Risk-effective, Acceptable"; Scene management; Resource checklists
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Build on the existing community of practice that provides tabletop scenarios for detachment use and provide and develop a repository where useful resources are regularly added including lessons learned from relevant critical incidents. Maintain a mass distribution email inviting past candidates to access the repository regularly
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Offer 1- to 2-day refreshers
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Establish a method to measure and track performance of Initial Critical Incident Response 200-trained learners using after-action debriefs
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Re-position the Initial Critical Incident Response 200 as a basic command and control course and focus the course on foundational command and control concepts. Increase course content and consequently course duration to five days instead of two
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Optimize the current method of delivery using a combination of instruction, case studies, and simple tabletop scenarios allowing adequate repetition for each candidate to self- visualize themselves making command decisions
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Ensure future development of the Initial Critical Incident Response 200 is done in alignment with the critical incident command course, and the anticipated 300 level course
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Consider introducing Incident Command System 100 as a prerequisite
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Consider optimizing foundation learning opportunities through Depot, carbine training, and Immediate Action Rapid Deployment in relation to "Identify/Isolate, Containment, Long guns and less lethal, Evacuate or Shelter in Place, Authorities and React" Plans; "Isolate, Contain/ Control, Evacuate and Negotiate"; "Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration, Command, Control, Communication"; and "Necessary, Risk-effective, Acceptable"
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – In addition to the Initial Critical Incident Response 100, modify the Initial Critical Incident Response 100 and retitle it as the Initial Critical Incident Response 200 refresher to be completed every two years following completion of the Initial Critical Incident Response 200 course
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Introduce Pre-course reading material (such as lexicon, etc. case studies, authorities)
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Encourage awareness of Incident Command System 200 (encourage Incident Command System 200 completion following Initial Critical Incident Response 200)
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Continue the development of a command-and-control course to bridge the gap between the Initial Critical Incident Response 200 and the Critical Incident Command Course such as an Initial Critical Incident Response-300. This course will be directed at a specific target group of learners and should be built on the Initial Critical Incident Response 200 and Initial Critical Incident Response 100 foundation
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Ensure the Initial Critical Incident Response 200 course is changed to address identified opportunities for improvement in alignment with the development of the anticipated Initial Critical Incident Response-300 course
Initial Critical Incident Response 200 – Prepare Initial Critical Incident Response candidates for next level of expertise (300 course or Critical Incident Command course) by identifying additional concepts and applications of command and control such as missing vulnerable persons and public disorder incidents; post-incident considerations- Hot Wash / After Action Review; notes and reports

What it means

The Critical Incident Program, within Operational Readiness and Response, has created an internal working group. This includes the National Police Intervention Unit, Learning and Development and the Canadian Police College. The working group is focussed on:

conducting an examination of current training compliance of the Initial Critical Incident Response national standard in place
training needs analysis
developing training to meet the need for new, more advanced Initial Critical Incident Response training that has been identified

The group has recently completed a Training Needs Analysis with the assistance of Learning and Development. The working group will consult with subject matter representatives in each division to inform the training modernization and course development.

This external review and its findings will help inform a broad range of ongoing efforts the RCMP has been undertaking in order to respond to the Mass Casualty Commission's recommendations, including but not limited to:

conducting a parallel internal review of the 100- and 200-level courses to identify any required changes in the broader context of other Mass Casualty Commission recommendations such as the need for immediate and effective public communications, in addition the external expert review
looking at developing an additional initial critical incident response course for senior non-commissioned officers who may need to provide initial command and control until a trained Critical Incident Commander is deployed to an incident. This course is tentatively called Initial Critical Incident Response-300
examining similar training currently provided to other policing partners to identify best practices and concepts
ensuring each training course builds on the next and that skills improve as the courses progress. This is consistent with a recommendation made by the external experts in their report

Contact us

The full report is available in PDF format in the Open Government Portal.

For more information:

Strategic Implementation Team, Reform and Accountability, RCMP National Headquarters

Email: strategicimplementationapplicationstrategique_dl@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Date modified:: 2024-03-12

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