Being proactive on patrol is about more than just making stops—it’s about spotting crime before it happens and handling it safely and legally. This course gives patrol officers the skills and knowledge to confidently interdict criminal activity while keeping themselves and the community safe.

You’ll learn to recognize the signs of stress and resistance in people you encounter, including freeze, flight, and fight behaviors, plus the subtle cues that come before them. The course covers building reasonable suspicion, conducting roadside interviews, building rapport, and knowing when (and how) to ask for consent. Body camera footage and scenario-based exercises bring these skills to life and give you hands-on practice in real-world situations.

What You’ll Learn

  • Human Factors in Encounters
    Understand how the body’s stress responses (freeze, flight, fight) play out—and how to read pre-flight and pre-assault signals.

  • Real-World Application
    Review actual body cam footage to see proactive skills in action during pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle stops.

  • Legal and Tactical Proficiency
    Develop reasonable suspicion, conduct interviews that get results, and know what to do when consent is denied but suspicion remains.

  • Officer Safety
    Sharpen your awareness and use perception, fieldcraft and impression management to stay safe and in control.

By the end of this course, you’ll be ready to identify and tackle criminal activity proactively, balancing officer safety with sound legal practices. You’ll leave with the confidence and versatility to handle even the most complex street-level encounters professionally.


Certificate: 8 Hour

Credit: In-service credit available in many states


Instructor

Proactive Policing Instructor

Craig Meyer

Craig Meyer has been a certified Peace Officer since 2013. He began his career in Somerset County, New Jersey where he graduated the police academy and then worked for two different municipal police departments from 2013-2017. At the end of 2017, Meyer transferred to the State of Texas to work with a municipal police department. Since transferring to Texas, Meyer has promoted to the role of Sergeant. During his time in Texas he has held the positions of Patrol Sergeant, Field Training Program Coordinator and SWAT Team Leader. Meyer stands behind his “lead from the front” mentality as a supervisor, prioritizes developing his people and believes in fulfilling his greater purpose of helping officers all over the country achieve success in employing proactive policing tactics. As an instructor, Meyer has been credited by thousands of police officers across North America and Canada for having created a lecture based presentation that has successfully broken down and explained the human limbic system as it applies to behaviors commonly displayed by criminals, in a way that can be easily comprehended and then immediately applied at the street level by police officers for success. Meyer is still a proactive Sergeant and continues to employ the same tactics and training taught in class, in the field with his own team of officers.

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ADDED BONUS

FREE IN-PERSON TICKET

Purchasing this course will entitle you to a free ticket for the in-person class Mastering Proactive Policing for Patrol

Course curriculum

  1. 1

    • Welcome to Blue to Gold University

    • Course Introduction

    • Meet Your Instructor

    • Questions and Technical Support
  2. 2

    • Mastering Proactive Policing with Craig Meyer

    • Disclaimer

    • Introduction to Class

    • Building the Proactive Pyramid

    • The Combo + Freeze Mode

    • Nonverbal Distancing at Work

    • Contingencies & Considerations for Exiting Prior To

    • Does The Driving Make Sense

    • Parked Occupied Vehicles

    • Eye Blocking

    • Refusing to Exit

    • Pacifying Behaviors

    • Reverse Distancing

    • Drive-Thrus and Parking Lots

    • Verbal Distancing and Pre-Action Behaviors

    • Passenger Side Approaches

    • Their Center of Gravity

    • The Wanted Fugitive

    • Gaining Admissions of PC, Consent, and Navigating Through It All

    • Foot Patrol Tactics and Considerations
  3. 3

    • Find more about Craig's classes and store

Course Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5 star rating

Great Class

Sigurd Sivertson

I believe every officer in the US should take this course. Officers need to know this stuff so we can stop bad case law from being made.

I believe every officer in the US should take this course. Officers need to know this stuff so we can stop bad case law from being made.

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5 star rating

Amazing!!

Steven Sentz

Highly useful information that can be used on every call for service

Highly useful information that can be used on every call for service

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4 star rating

This class was great

Humberto Martinez

i learned a lot. Its about the minor details, especially when it comes to our line of work

i learned a lot. Its about the minor details, especially when it comes to our line of work

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5 star rating

Solid

Troy Wylie

Helpful information, very well presented, in manageable portions.

Helpful information, very well presented, in manageable portions.

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  • Our courses are designed to be comprehensive, engaging, and well-structured delivered by a knowledgeable and passionate instructor.

  • Up-to-date, practical content that reflects industry trends and is presented in an easy-to-understand manner.

  • Collaborative opportunities, feedback, and assessment to facilitate student learning and progress tracking.

  • Our courses provide practical skills and knowledge that can be applied in real-life situations, with relevant examples, case studies, and exercises.

  • You will receive a certificate of completion.