ACO Training & Education
Safety & Self Defense with Raider Tactical
July 17th 2025, 10am – 5pm in Bellevue, WA
Course objective: Maximize safety of Animal Control Officers, Community Members and the animals they care about.
Training hours/cost: This training course is recommended to be 6 hours. It will be held at West Coast Armory in Bellevue, Washington. The tentative hours for training are 10 AM to 5 PM, with a 30 minute lunch. The cost for this training includes facility, 2 instructors and equipment, and is $100 per student. Class max is 16 students due to gym size. Priority will be given to 2025 ACO Academy Graduates of the CJTC March 2025 class.
Training topics covered:
- Philosophy of self defense
- Legalities of self defense
- Survival Triangle model: Mindset, Skills, Strategies
- Awareness shield
- Attack Triangle model: Opportunity, Intent, Ability
- Stress Management
- De escalation
- Patrol Tactics/Response
- Legal Authority
- Communication
- Position and movement
- Equipment management
- Threat Management: identify, prioritize, respond
- Basic physical self defense skills
- Tactics and strategy development
Learn more about the Instructors, Gary and Julia, at raidertactical.us
Have a topic you’d like to see WACA sponsor training on? Please email us at info@washingtonanimalcontrolassociation.org
Animal Control Officer Academy March 2026 – dates to be announced Late 2025.
The next Academy will be held in March 2026.
Students must enroll and pay through Acadis.
The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) and Washington Animal Control Association (WACA) have partnered together to offer the Animal Control Officer Academy. This 80-hour intensive course is held at the WSCJTC center in Burien, Washington and is specifically designed for Animal Control Officers. Instructors consist of WACA personnel who will cover a variety of topics to satisfy Washington state’s Animal Control Officer requirements.
Topics Covered in 80-Hour Course:
Animal Control and Care:
- Capture & Restraint
- Animal Behavior and Breed Identification
- Wildlife Identification & Handling
- State & Local Animal Laws
- Animal cruelty investigations
- Dangerous dog law
- Animal Diseases and First Aid
- Blood Sports
Traditional Law Enforcement:
- Court Room Procedures
- Ethics
- Crisis Intervention
- Criminal Law
- Search & Seizure
- Warrants
- Basic evidence collection
- Report writing
Photos From 2022 Class
