Peace officer training: traumatic brain injury: post-traumatic stress disorder.

Existing law provides that the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training establish and keep updated various training programs to maintain the level of competence of various law enforcement officers. This bill would require the commission to assess the training needed by peace officers on the topic of returning veterans or other persons suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) . Should the commission find a need for the training, the bill would require the commission, in consultation with designated entities with expertise in TBI and PTSD, to create and make available a course for peace officers, who are first responders in emergency situations, on how to recognize and interact with persons suffering from TBI or PTSD, as specified. The bill would also require the commission to distribute, as necessary, a training bulletin via the Internet to specified law enforcement agencies on the topics of TBI and PTSD, and to report to the Legislature, no later than June 30, 2012, on the extent to which peace officers are receiving adequate training in how to interact with persons suffering from TBI or PTSD.