FOCUS Certification
Field Observable Cues for Unknown Situations
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Decision Tactical
Sanford, Florida
Most law enforcement training begins once the threat is obvious.
FOCUS teaches officers to recognize the behavioral indicators that often appear before violence occurs.
Developed by Dr. Travis Yates, FOCUS (Field Observable Cues for Unknown Situations) is a research-based behavioral recognition framework built from validated science and real-world law enforcement experience. Rather than relying on instinct alone, participants learn a repeatable system for identifying pre-attack indicators and making better decisions during rapidly evolving encounters.
This one-day certification course is designed for law enforcement professionals who want to improve officer safety, threat recognition, and tactical decision-making.
What You’ll Learn
- The science behind pre-attack behavioral indicators
- The complete FOCUS behavioral recognition framework
- How to identify observable cues before violence occurs
- Applying FOCUS during traffic stops, citizen contacts, and unknown-risk encounters
- Scenario-based exercises and practical application
- Integrating the FOCUS framework into daily patrol operations
Your Instructor
Dr. Travis Yates is a nationally recognized law enforcement trainer, founder of Tactical Behavior Academy, and an expert in behavioral threat management, officer safety, and leadership. His work has helped thousands of officers and agencies better recognize and respond to emerging threats before they become deadly encounters.
Certification
Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a FOCUS Certification and supporting reference materials.
Who Should Attend
This course is intended for:
- Chiefs, sheriffs and command staff
- LE instructors
- Training commanders
- Patrol officers and deputies
- Union representatives
- Specialized units
- Legal advisors and attorneys
Training Venue
Decision Tactical in Sanford, FL is unlike any training venue you’ve experienced before. This full-service facility brings everything under one roof, from professional-grade training space and equipment to an immersive, true-to-life training environment that few venues can match. It’s realism you can feel, built to put officers in scenarios that mirror what they’ll face in the field. Add to that knowledgeable staff who understand what serious training requires, and a restaurant on site offering great food, and this training day becomes something more. Between the immersive realism, the quality of instruction space, and the quality of the meals, Decision Tactical is a venue no leader wants to leave without exploring further.
Registration check in
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.)
Location:
Decision Tactical
Sanford, Florida
Tuition: $299 per attendee
Currently lunch is on your own. Facility has a scratch-kitchen restaurant on site. Lunch vendor sponsorships welcome.
Space is limited. Advance registration is required.
“Officers are not getting hurt because they lack courage. They are getting hurt because nobody taught them how to react prior to violence.” — Dr. Travis Yates