De-Escalation Training
De-escalatory Training
Research has shown that de-escalatory training can be used to reduce police use of force without an increase in officer fatalities.. In de-escalatory training, emphasis is placed on so-called “tactical withdrawals” instead of “full frontal assault tactics”- a direct, full-force attack. This means that instead of promoting a direct, full-force attack on the “enemy,” officers momentarily back off and regroup when threatened with a weapon; these tactical withdrawals tend to get better results than direct force.
When police departments such as that of Richmond, California focused more on de-escalation, they found officers significantly less likely to use both lethal and “less lethal” force, thereby potentially saving lives. “The Dallas Police Department, for example, saw an 18 percent drop in use of force the year after it instituted de-escalation training. In addition, since 2010, excessive force complaints there have dropped by 83 percent. Las Vegas, also, has reported a reduction in use of force and officer-involved shootings, which fell by more than half between 2012 and 2016, to just 10.”
Here, instead of impulsively trying to confront someone, officers are trained to take an indirect approach to protect themselves while they make contact with an individual at a safe distance.
While guns and “less lethal” forms of force such as pepper spray and tasers can be useful in certain scenarios, there are multiple non-violent approaches that can be just as effective. By changing an officer's training, we can shift an officer’s “warrior” mindset to that of a guardian- one that recognizes the importance of preserving the lives of those in their community.
In 2014, Michigan officers began to focus on tactics and communication rather than full frontal attacks. In one case in Kalamazoo, when faced with an aggressive man carrying a knife, these techniques were used. After a 40 min standoff, the ordeal ended with a handshake instead of a funeral.
Unfortunately, 34 states, including New York and Minnesota, do not require any de-escalatory training, and some states where it is required teach as little as one hour of de-escalatory training per year. On average, to maintain a certification, de-escalatory training in states where it is required will be about 5% of mandatory yearly training- most of the program is focused on combat. This is not enough to affect a change in an officer’s mindset.
Procedural Justice
Officers should also be required to undergo training in procedural justice. These programs emphasize the importance of voice, neutrality, respect, and trustworthiness in policing actions. Officers are encouraged to provide opportunities for civilians to state and explain their case before making a decision, apply consistent and rules-based decision-making, treat civilians with dignity and respect their status as community members. Most importantly, they are taught how to specifically demonstrate willingness to act in the interests of the community and with responsiveness to civilians’ concerns.
Officers who undergo training in procedural justice are less likely to use force, and even less likely to make arrests.
Force-Limiting Policies
There are additional policies that can be put into legislation to prevent excessive use of force, and make sure that officers ultimately use the conflict-avoidant techniques outlined above. Officers in police departments that have more restrictive policies in place are actually less likely to be killed in the line of duty, less likely to be assaulted, and have similar likelihood of sustaining an injury during an assault. Policies that need to be enacted include:
Requiring officers to de-escalate situations, when possible, before using force.
Requiring the use of a Force Continuum or Matrix that define/limit the types of force and/or weapons that can be used to respond to specific types of resistance.
Restricting chokeholds and strangleholds (including carotid restraints) to situations where deadly force is authorized or prohibiting them altogether.
Requiring officers to give a verbal warning, when possible, before using deadly force.
Prohibiting officers from shooting at people in moving vehicles unless the person poses a deadly threat by means other than the vehicle (for example, shooting at people from the vehicle).
Requiring officers to exhaust all other reasonable alternatives before resorting to using deadly force.
Requiring officers to intervene to stop another officer from using excessive force.
Requiring comprehensive reporting that includes both uses of force and threats of force (for example, reporting instances where an officer threatens a civilian with a firearm).
We need to push for state-mandated legislation that allows for training de-escalatory and procedural justice training to improve relationships between cops and their community. Call and email your local and state representatives and ask them to pass legislation requiring at least five hours of yearly conflict avoidance training, or to implement any of the force-limiting policies discussed above. In doing so, we will be saving lives.
Click here to find out the training requirements in your state, and here to find out how to contact your elected officials.