Building Reasonable Suspicion Through Conversation During Consensual Encounters

This course gives officers practical skills for developing reasonable suspicion through casual conversation during consensual encounters.

Tuesday
,
Aug 25, 2026
1:30 pm
-
3:30 pm
Instructor(s):
Nicholas Bonney
View full class scheduleRegister for HITS 2026
Nicholas Bonney presenting Building Reasonable Suspicion Through Conversation During Consensual Encounters at HITS.
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Class overview

This course gives officers practical skills for developing reasonable suspicion through casual conversation during consensual encounters. Using real case examples and body-camera clips, students learn to spot deceptive behavior, recognize criminal indicators, and lawfully move from a Tier 1 consensual contact to a Tier 2 investigative detention.

Training begins with the legal foundation of consensual encounters, including key case law, constitutional limits, and how courts evaluate officer actions. Officers learn how to start and maintain voluntary, low-pressure conversations while staying within Tier 1 guidelines.

A major section covers signs of deception—delayed answers, inconsistent stories, repeated responses, unusual “thinking time,” and stress-based body language. Students learn how to pair these observations with context and clearly articulate them to support reasonable suspicion.

Once reasonable suspicion is formed, officers are taught how to properly transition to a Tier 2 detention, communicate the detention clearly, and manage the scene professionally.

The course also explains what to do when consent is denied. Officers learn the correct process for detaining a vehicle or luggage for a K-9 sniff, legal rules for prolonging a stop, and how to avoid suppression issues. Scenarios walk students through requesting a canine unit and articulating the need for continued detention.

This session explains:

  • signs of deception—delayed answers, inconsistent stories, repeated responses, unusual “thinking time,” and stress-based body language
  • This course gives officers practical skills for developing reasonable suspicion through casual conversation during consensual encounters.
  • Training begins with the legal foundation of consensual encounters, including key case law, constitutional limits, and how courts evaluate officer
  • Officers learn how to start and maintain voluntary, low-pressure conversations while staying within Tier 1 guidelines.
Light beige paper texture background with subtle fibers and creases.Light beige paper texture background with subtle fibers and creases.Light beige paper texture background with subtle fibers and creases.Light beige paper texture background with subtle fibers and creases.Light beige paper texture background with subtle fibers and creases.
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About the instructor

Nicholas Bonney

Nic Bonney is an instructor with Ace Interdiction Tactics and investigator/TFO with the Nebraska State Patrol, specializing in consensual encounters and parcel interdiction.

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What past attendees say

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Go to HITS. It's a great class. Great conference. This is the third one that I've been to. I try and go every time. They change up the classes. It's offered for detection and apprehension or patrol canines. All the classes are great. You should definitely check it out. I'm going to try and come back next year.

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Greg Edlund
Broward Sheriff Office

Hi, this is Brian Laas. I'm from Arvada, Colorado. This is about my second or third time with HITS, and I've enjoyed it greatly. I like the vast amount of instructors' backgrounds, so even though I've come once or twice before, I'm always gaining a lot of knowledge. This is a great seminar for both the new and the old handlers. I think you can't go wrong coming here. It's a good time and well-spent money for your department.

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Brian Laas
Arvada Police Department

Hi, my name is Neil with U.S. Park Police. This is the first time I ever attend HITS and it's great training. A lot of different courses that definitely benefit my career. I've been a handler for 14 years now. I'm still learning and I recommend people to come down here and learn something.

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Neil
US Park Police

Been to hits a couple times, keeps getting better every time. This year it's been amazing, a lot of people, a lot of great classes, great camaraderie between all the agencies here. It's a good time, I highly recommend it.

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Unknown Attendee

Hi, Mark with BCBK9 here at HITS 2017, lets you know what a success it was. Tons of handlers, tons of great classes. We're really glad that we drove all the way out from Missouri and we're looking forward to 2018 being in DC and we hope to see you all there.

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Mark
BCB K9

Yeah, this is my first time it hits. It was a great time. Actually, I've been to a lot of conferences before. This is definitely the best.

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Attendee
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Secure your seat at HITS 2026

Legal defensibility is not theoretical. It is tested in court.

This class helps handlers and agencies prepare before that moment arrives.

Register for HITS 2026
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Explore other HITS classes

The Drug Canine Legal Update is one part of a broader HITS program designed to strengthen deployment judgment, detection reliability, and operational decision-making in the field. Additional sessions expand that learning across tracking, behavior, detection science, and tactical leadership.

View full class schedule
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