Patrol Tracker Course — LE Tracking Training
| Duration | 40 hours (4 hours classroom, 36 hours field) |
|---|---|
| Class Size | 12 students maximum |
| Prerequisite | None |
| Target Personnel | Patrol officers, reserve and auxiliary deputies, crime scene investigators, SAR team members |
| Certification | Worldwide Trackers certification upon completion |
| Cost | Contact for quote |
Why Your Officers Need This Skill
Every pursuit that goes cold leaves a gap in your operational capability. The Patrol Tracker course closes that gap. In 40 hours, your officers gain the ability to detect, interpret, and follow human sign across terrain — a skill that NTOA's Tactical Response and Operations Standard (2023) identifies as a Tier 1 requirement for SWAT operations, and one that transforms the effectiveness of patrol, K-9, and investigative units alike.
This is the entry-level course for agencies building a tracking capability from scratch. No prior tracking experience is required. Officers leave with immediately deployable skills — not theory. Every training hour is scenario-driven, conducted outdoors in your operational environment using conditions your officers will actually face.
Why This Instructor
Forty hours of deliberate skill-building under the direct supervision of Fernando Moreira, a third-generation tracking instructor with decades of operational experience across five continents. Fernando is not retired — he is still operationally active with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and still teaching in the field. He has served as an expert witness on tracking evidence in criminal proceedings and is the author of Visual Mantracking for Law Enforcement and SAR and Shadow Disciple.
What Your Agency Gets
- Officers certified in tactical tracking fundamentals with documentation suitable for training records and court testimony
- A 40-hour block that fits a standard training week — conducted at your facility, no travel for your officers
- A capability recognized by NTOA standards that strengthens grant applications and accreditation reviews
- The foundation prerequisite for advanced courses including Crime Scene Track Investigation and Basic Tactical Tracking
Graduates receive Worldwide Trackers certification with bi-annual recertification available. Class size is capped at 12 to ensure each officer receives direct instructor feedback.
Skills You Will Develop
Ground Sign Detection & Interpretation
- Recognize and classify the four primary categories of ground sign
- Differentiate a target track from similar tracks in the same area
- Age tracks by interpreting the effects of weather, terrain, and time on sign
- Detect and interpret sign in varied conditions: slopes, vegetation, snow, rock, urban surfaces
Tracking Tools & Techniques
- Set up and use a tracking stick to locate and confirm successive footprints
- Complete a track report with measurements, drawings, and identifying features
- Reacquire lost tracks through systematic sign cutting
- Apply appropriate lighting techniques for low-light and night tracking
Team Operations
- Operate as lead tracker and flanker within a patrol tracking team
- Rotate positions to prevent tracking fatigue and maintain pace
- Communicate track information to supervisors and other field teams
- Coordinate tracking operations with K-9 units and other search assets
Scene & Evidence Management
- Preserve trackable evidence at scenes before it degrades
- Protect sign from contamination by other personnel
- Understand continuity of sign as a form of evidence
- Document tracking findings in formats suitable for reports and court proceedings
Schedule Training
All courses are conducted at your facility. Worldwide Trackers will provide a travel estimate upon request.
Contact: fernando@tacticaltrackingschool.com
Phone: 775-338-0882