Unit Outline
PEM306
Supervising Command and Control in Policing
Semester 1, 2025
James Dwyer
School of Social Sciences
College of Arts, Law and Education
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
James Dwyer
Email: James.Dwyer@utas.edu.au
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
 

This unit examines the role of police in supervising emergency management, specifically focusing on command and control in policing. Operational policing practices are addressed in a variety of circumstances, and students are exposed to the issues involved in supervising command and control in diverse contexts. Students examine a variety of issues affecting the supervision of command and control in policing, including: interoperability with other services and agencies, tactical and strategic decision making in police leadership environments, strategies for dealing with diverse situations, and the roles played by police supervisors and frontline personnel.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1
Communicate your mission, and influence the behaviour of your staff within dynamic policing environments.
2
Exercise sound decision making, assume command and control of incidents, and effectively manage resources.
3
Evaluate multiple responses to emergency situations, taking into account risk management, standardised procedures and changing environments.
4
Evaluate interoperability with other services and agencies, tactical and strategic decision making in police leadership environments, and strategies for dealing with diverse situations .
Alterations as a result of student feedback
 
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 

How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
DOPS
See the MyLO site for the due date
10 %
LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
DOPS
See the MyLO site for the due date
10 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
DOPS
See the MyLO site for the due date
25 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:
DOPS
See the MyLO site for the due date
25 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 5:
Reflection
See the MyLO site for the due date
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: DOPS
Task Description:
Individual; Summative; Media Release and Interview relating to one emergency incident exercise
Task Length:
1 hour
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
10 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Employ communication strategies tailored to stakeholders’ needs and frontline policing priorities.
LO2, LO3
2
Follow Tasmania Police procedures and policies and comply with legislative requirements
LO2, LO3
3
Manage exchange of information through briefings
LO2, LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: DOPS
Task Description:
Individual; Summative; Report documenting
Task Length:
1000 words
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
10 %
 

 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Soundness of approach
LO1, LO2, LO3
2
Depth of analysis
LO2, LO3, LO4
3
Suitability of communication styles
LO3, LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: DOPS
Task Description:
Individual; Summative; Emergency Incident Desktop Practical exercise
Task Length:
1 hour
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
25 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify critical and emerging issues
LO1, LO2, LO3
2
Manage risk
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Make critical decisions (and provide a rationale for these)
LO1, LO2, LO3
4
Make tactical decisions towards a safe resolution
LO1
5
Follow Tasmania Police procedures and policies and comply with legislative requirements
LO1, LO2, LO3
6
Seek and analyse relevant information
LO1, LO2, LO3
7
Develop and articulate the mission
LO1, LO2, LO3
8
Project a controlled demeanour and use appropriate language
LO1, LO2, LO3
9
Manage exchange of information through briefings
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment Task 4: DOPS
Task Description:
Individual; Summative; Emergency Incident Field Practical exercise
Task Length:
1 hour
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
25 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify critical and emerging issues
LO1, LO2, LO3
2
Manage risk
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Make critical decisions (and provide a rationale for these)
LO1, LO2, LO3
4
Make tactical decisions towards a safe resolution
LO1, LO2, LO3
5
Follow Tasmania Police procedures and policies and comply with legislative requirements
LO1, LO2, LO3
6
Seek and analyse relevant information
LO1, LO2, LO3
7
Develop and articulate the mission
LO1, LO2, LO3
8
Project a controlled demeanour and use appropriate language
LO1, LO2, LO3
9
Manage exchange of information through briefings
LO1, LO2, LO3
 

 
Assessment Task 5: Reflection
Task Description:
Individual; Summative; Critical Reflection on students’ experiences as police officers, and analysis of a scenario where they were involved in, or have knowledge of, the front-line command and control of a critical incident.
Task Length:
2,000 words OR 15-minute recorded presentation (format of student’s choice)
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify approaches to managing the command and control of a critical incident
LO1, LO3, LO4
2
Evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the command and control of the selected incident
LO1, LO3, LO4
3
Communicate and support your arguments using relevant literature and police documents.
LO1, LO2
 
 
 

How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
Academic progress review
The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see
Important Guidelines & Support.
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 

Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.