Pearson, David
Top 20 Tactical Principles for Law Enforcement: 16-20

This course is divided into four (4) presentations. Attendees may choose to attend any or all of the sessions, as each will focus on different elements of the "Top 20" concepts - an in-depth exploration of principles that are foundational to the mindset, philosophy, and tactical considerations of today's law enforcement officers.

The Top 20 concepts are essential for both daily operations and critical incident decision-making. They are applicable to officers, supervisors, and managers across patrol and special operations, and provide valuable tools for navigating complex situations, including suicidal subject calls and crowd management events. Regardless of previous experience, participants will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of key topics such as: the Balanced Officer (warrior vs. guardian), soft skills, de-escalation, the OODA loop, tactical decision-making, safety priorities, officer jeopardy, opportunity, the Four C's, space and time, tactical pause, and scenario-based integrated training. These concepts are delivered through incident debriefs and video analysis to support practical application and discussion. A dedicated segment will focus on strategies for responding to suicidal subject calls, demonstrating how many of the Top 20 principles intersect in real-world, high-pressure scenarios. By the end of the course, attendees will be better equipped to make informed, consistent, and defensible decisions using a structured five-step decision-making model, ultimately enhancing their leadership abilities and operational effectiveness.

David Pearson - Bio
David Pearson began his law enforcement career in 1990 with the Prince Georges County (MD) Police, then went to the Thornton (CO) Police Department from 1992-1995. Dave started with the Fort Collins (CO) Police Services in 1995, retiring in 2021. He served as a SWAT team leader for eight years before being promoted to Lieutenant in 2011. As a lieutenant, David has served in Criminal Investigations, Professional Standards, the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force, and as Acting Assistant Chief. David has been instructing since 1996 on over a dozen topics. Since 2005, David has been an instructor for the NTOA and teaches a wide variety of topics, most notably the Less Lethal Impact Projectiles, Chemical Agents, & Noise Flash Diversionary Device Instructor course. David has certified over 1000 instructors in the United States and Canada on less-lethal munitions. Since 2013, he has served in the role of NTOA Less Lethal Section Chair.