9:00 am to 5:00 pm

This search and tracking training is specifically designed for first responders, particularly law enforcement, search and rescue teams, fire and EMS who may be first on scene to locate an evasive or threatening subject, kidnapping, or lost person.

Honed tracking skills are applicable as a primary response skill. It helps to verify witness statements, to establish the last know place of a subject and their purpose or intent and path of egress or exit routing. Enhanced visual tracking can help to reveal physical evidence and to follow a fleeing subject.

This training is free and registration is required. Complete the form below.

First responders are skilled at quickly assessing an incident scene upon arrival. This training will train first responders to truly see all there is to see which will assist with more rapid response, improve evidence gathering, improve scene preservation and enhance the ability to track a perpetrator or lost person.

The training includes both classroom and field work. The classroom portion will introduce students to elements of tracking, including methodology, techniques, procedures and operational applications. The method taught is applicable to searches of any kind, whether outdoors in urban or rural settings, or within buildings and homes. The field work will provide students the opportunity to apply the taught techniques to develop a deeper understanding of training and to train their brains to “see” what they are seeing.

The training also includes methods of providing physical security to scene elements important to tracking, tactical and search operations, and understanding the scene of an improvised explosive device attack for intelligence gathering.

The training is free. Registration is required. 

Training days are Wednesday through Friday, September 21 to 23, 2022. Please note the special hours of training for day 2 noted below.

• The training will begin with classroom session at UMass Amherst Police Department at 9:00am Wednesday, September 21.
• The second day of training will begin at 1:00pm (1300 hours) and conclude at 9:00pm. This will allow tracking training in low to no light conditions.
• The third day of training will run from 9:00am to 5:00pm

As noted above, classroom portion of the training will occur at UMass Amherst Police Department, 585 E Pleasant St, Amherst, MA. The majority of the outdoor tracking training will be held at Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, 69 Moody Bridge Road, Hadley, Ma. The first day of training report to UMass Amherst Police Department and details and times for outdoor portions of the training will be shared during course orientation.

Registration for this training is closed. Thank you for your interest.