Tactical De-Escalation Techniques

Across the United States, police departments spend countless hours training officers on the use of force involving simple wrist locks and pressure points; chemical agents and physical strikes; and progressing to impact weapons and firearms. While this type of training is critical for all law enforcement officers, agencies must provide proper “Tactical De-Escalation Techniques” to officers as well.

Regardless of an agency or officer’s individual views of de-escalation tactics, it MUST be implemented into every police department’s training program. Many officers believe that the use of de-escalation techniques will jeopardize their safety and place them at a tactical disadvantage. But the proper use of de-escalation has the complete opposite effect. Statistics and studies show that it increases officer safety and places the officer in a more advantageous tactical position.

This one-day course will provide officers with the necessary tools to properly de-escalate a situation while maintaining a tactical mindset. Officers will learn effective techniques for communicating under stress without escalating a situation.

Instruction will also focus on field contacts with emotionally disturbed persons and mentally ill subjects. Officers will learn about key mental health issues relevant to street encounters, as well as specific de-escalation tactics for this special population. Practical, classroom-based scenarios will be presented to demonstrate these concepts.

Topics

• Understanding De-Escalation
• Six Principles of Social Theory
• Communicating Under Stress
• Showing Empathy to Others
• Active Listening Skills
• Minimizing Force Encounters
• Reasonable and Necessary Force Options
• Improving Public Perception
• Maintaining Tactical Mindset
• Strategies for Emotionally Disturbed Persons
• Crisis Intervention and Tactical Apprehension
• Transitioning to Force
• Proper Documentation
• Case Studies

This course is funded by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board through its Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training Program.