Policing Forward Training Calendar
Patrol Drug Investigations and Confidential Informant Development
Date: November 11, 2026
Time: 8:00am-4:00pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Madison Police Training Center - 5702 Femrite Drive, Madison, WI 53718
Course Overview:
This 8-hour course is hosted by members of the Dane County Narcotics Task Force and is specifically geared toward the newer patrol officer who wants to be pro-active and build confidence in street-level drug interdiction. Course material will cover the basics of making drug stops and provide guidance on how to take investigations to the next level by turning suspects into informants. Students will receive classroom instruction from veteran DCNTF personnel, supplemented by realistic scenarios, to provide an engaging learning experience.
LE Only
NTOA Public Order Basic Command Certification
Date: February 1-5, 2027
Deadline to Register: January 1, 2027
Time: 8:00am-5:00pm
Cost: Members - $724.00, Non-Members - $779.00
Location: Madison Police Training Center - 5702 Femrite Drive, Madison, WI 53718
Course Overview:
This course is designed for law enforcement personnel who are responsible for the direct management or supervision of Public Order personnel during field operations. This course will expose law enforcement Public Order supervisors to contemporary public order issues, tactics, and procedures. Topics will include: leadership, professionalism, risk mitigation, de-escalation tactics, decision-making, policy, crowd management theories, planning, legal issues, personal protective equipment, operational considerations and use of force.
NOTE: Students will participate in group and functional exercises. Students are required to bring a computer, an example of an agency operational plan, and any relevant agency policies. Students are required to pass a final course exam (taken online) to successfully pass the course.
Class restricted to Law Enforcement Professionals Only
AR15/M16/M4/AR308 Armorer Course
Date: February 2-3, 2027
Time: 8:00am-5:00pm
Cost: $550
Location: Madison Police Training Center - 5702 Femrite Drive, Madison, WI 53718
Course Overview:
Law Enforcement Agencies are deploying or are in the process of issuing carbine rifles to Field Supervisors, Field Officers, and Tactical Units. With that comes the need of having qualified Armorers or Rangemasters to service and maintain these weapons on a regular basis.
This course covers all M16/AR15 type carbine weapons systems made and their variants. Armorers will be certified in the proper maintenance, care, and repair of these weapons systems, including semi-auto and select-fire trigger systems.
This program follows the Manufacturer's guidelines and is taught by FBI and NRA Certified Instructors.
Or Email Greg "Sully" Sullivan at: Sully@TheDefensiveEdge.com
Class restricted to Law Enforcement Professionals Only
Lyrics, Loyalty & Violence: Gang Music as Intelligence
Date: March 1, 2027
Time: 8:00am-4:00pm
Cost: $175
Location: Madison Police Training Center - 5702 Femrite Drive, Madison, WI 53718
Overview:
Gang culture increasingly lives online, and music can provide investigators with valuable context about identity, rivalries, alliances, threats, recruitment, and criminal networks. This course examines how drill music, narco corridos, and white supremacist/hate music intersect with gang culture and criminal investigations. Participants learn to evaluate lyrics, music videos, social-media content, symbolism, and messaging as potential intelligence while recognizing the constitutional and evidentiary limits of artistic expression. The goal is not to treat music as proof of criminal conduct, but to identify information that can be independently corroborated and developed into investigative leads. NOTE: Violent, offensive, extremist, or gang-related expression may still be constitutionally protected. Focus on criminal conduct and independently corroborated facts, not viewpoint, genre, or artistic persona alone.
This course will cover the following topics:
•Understand how music reinforces gang identity, recruitment, reputation, and conflict.
•Recognize drill music, narco corridos, and white hate music.
•Identify intelligence indicators in lyrics, videos, imagery, and social media.
•Distinguish artistic expression from corroborated criminal evidence.
•Recognize rivalries, associations, symbols, locations, and network indicators.
•Develop investigative leads from music-related content.
•Identify online escalation that may signal retaliation or violence.
•Document and preserve digital content for investigative follow-up.
•Avoid confirmation bias when interpreting lyrics and music-related content.
•Apply content, context, connections, and corroboration to intelligence analysis.
LE Only
LeadsOnline: Digital Evidence Investigations Workshop & Training
Date: April 13-14, 2027
Time: 8:00am-5:00pm
Cost: FREE & Lunch is Provided
Location: Madison Police Training Center - 5702 Femrite Drive, Madison, WI 53718
More Information Coming Soon!