RI – Use of Force: Leadership, Decision Making and Review

Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy
Hosts
Use of Force: Leadership, Decision Making and Review
April 28-29, 2026  0830 – 1630 Hours

Course Synopsis:

In today’s environment, every use of force incident is placed under a microscope—often dissected frame by frame and judged by individuals who may lack the necessary training or context. This scrutiny can fuel distrust and spread false narratives, making it more important than ever for leaders and trainers to approach these incidents with accuracy, expertise, and objectivity.

The analysis, investigation, and training related to police use of force remain some of the most complex and evolving challenges in our profession. This intensive 2-day training is designed for all ranking officers, internal affairs investigators, and trainers responsible for reviewing, evaluating, or instructing on use of force incidents. Regardless of rank or assignment, the skills taught in this course apply directly to anyone in a leadership or oversight role.

Through lectures, case studies, and live demonstrations, participants will gain actionable insights and proven strategies for navigating the modern challenges of use of force incidents. The course emphasizes evidence-based analysis, accurate reporting, and legally sound decision-making—tools essential for both defending appropriate actions and addressing deficiencies when they occur.

Through a combination of lectures, real-world case studies, participants will gain practical insights and proven strategies to effectively assess and respond to modern use of force challenges. Topics include legal standards, human performance under stress, liability reduction through documentation, and decision-making frameworks for field application and training.  “One improper technique can change a county.”

Course Objectives
1. Discuss define the legal applications of use of force.
2. Identify and explain the legal statutes governing use of force.
3. Discuss the three components of Graham v. Connor (490 U.S. 386, 397) and their application to use-of-force situations.
4. Explain the legal standards for applying non-deadly force to achieve physical control and restraint.
5. Analyze Kingsley v. Hendrickson (576 U.S. 389, 2015) and its seven objective considerations regarding use of force.
6. Define the “objective reasonableness” standard and interpret its application in Tennessee v. Garner (471 U.S. 1, 11).
7. Describe the psycho-physiological dynamics of violent encounters and their impact on close-quarters engagements.
8. Discuss and identify Myths vs. facts in use of force assessments
9. Analyze use-of-force incidents by examining the quality, frequency, and timeliness of force application.
10. Discuss risk management strategies for physical engagements to ensure safety, efficiency, and accountability.
11. Implement early intervention tracking systems for identifying patterns and practices in use-of-force incidents.
12. Learn to quantify force mitigation tactics and de-escalation efforts to identify patterns of proficiency.
13. Develop effective response strategies for special populations, including individuals with mental illness, disabilities, or other unique needs.
14. Identify and apply the five key steps to reviewing use-of-force incidents.
15. Analyze how inaccurate policies are incorporated into case law and discuss strategies to prevent such occurrences.
16. Understand how to avoid incidents similar to Eric Garner or George Floyd through use of force analysis to identify contextual needs.
17. Evaluate the steps necessary to identify foreseeable incidents and mitigate risks before they occur.
18. Define and categorize sixteen key terms related to police use of force to ensure clarity and consistency in reporting and training.
19. Discuss the human performance factors that impact decision-making and actions under high-stress encounters.
20. Learn what to track in police use-of-force reports to ensure accuracy and actionable insights.
21. Learn the anatomy of a police takedown and grounding techniques for investigative purposes.
22. Debunk myths surrounding prone restraint and sudden in-custody deaths and explore evidence-based strategies to prevent them.
23. Develop coordination and effective engagement strategies for multiple-officer encounters.
24. Recognize the importance of training measurements and performance evaluations, emphasizing the principle: “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.”
25. Address the challenges and best practices for video recording in use-of-force situations, including its role in reporting and investigations.
26. Gain actionable insights on the tracking, trending, and analysis of use-of-force incidents to improve accountability and performance.
27. Plus more.

ONLY $495.00
REGISTER HERE

Course Flier

LOCATION of TRAINING:
Gary Driscoll
Director of Continuing Education
RI Municipal Police Training Academy
gary.driscoll@risp.gov
401-205-1678 (Desk)

Feedback from the presentation at Salem County Office of Emergency Management – NJ
Dec, 2025
What the Team had to say!

Student Evaluation Summary

Please assess the quality of this presentation.

• The second K.D. program (L.E.A.D.S.) and just as in that program this was extremely informative.
• Lt. is a great public speaker. He is giving you a different view of use of force despite several years I have worked so far. A new perspective to help my officers
• One of the best trainings I have attended. The insight and knowledge were above what I expected.
• Very knowledgeable in the information taught
• Kevin (Lt. Dillon) is a fantastic instructor who is very knowledgeable on the subject matter.
• Very good from a different perspective
• Active and engaging. Good use of notepad and color markers.
• Excellent. Knowledgeable.
• Instructor Dillon’s quality of presentation far exceeded what I thought my expectations were for this class. Mr. Dillon was entertaining, highly knowledgeable in kept everyone’s attention during our two days of training period I highly recommend this class and instructor.
• The instructor was personable and relatable. I wouldn’t have minded a third day of instruction.
• The instructor was excellent, great engagement and knowledgeable.
• I felt like this was a high-quality presentation. I thought the instructor made all scenarios relatable to corrections.
• This is very helpful information for our department. We’ll be recommending more training.
• Very informative we’ll take what I learned back to my department. Lieutenant Dillon kept you interested and intrigued.

Please assess the instructors of this program. Lt. Kevin F. Dillon (Ret)
15 out 15 evaluations collected rated this category at the highest level of excellent

• Outstanding
• KD’s knowledge and experience is extremely valuable to upcoming administrators, protecting staff in courtroom preparation.
• Same as above. The best instructor I have ever had
• Provided real life events when instructing the class that help retain information being taught.
• Great, very knowledgeable and energetic.
• KD knows a lot!
• Best instructor for this area of training
• Subject matter was explained for all to understand and make connections to personal experience.
• The program was very good, used relevant and up-to-date information.
• The instructor kept the class interesting period everyone was engaged.
• Great presenter it has a lot of knowledge.
• Lieutenant Kevin Dillon was excellent

 Please explain how this training will enable you to change or improve your present assignment.

• It will provide a different perspective on how to document incidents of use of force. I would also like to be added to the mailing list for future classes to send other investigators.
• Data analysis, officer report writing, policy change and training of staff.
• So many new ideas in new ways of thinking he has promoted.
• Offered insight on how to hold my officers accountable yet protect them with changes to our procedures.
• From the information I was taught I we’ll be able to take back to my department and utilize and help update in train the staff.
• Help me train our officers and use of force.
• Proper terms when reviewing policy and reports.
• Change and update policies based on a different way of thinking.
• It will improve my use of force investigations.
• This training gave me a new perspective on reviewing use of force
• Terminology learned will be applied to report writing, to liability to protect our staff.
• As a SOG commander, I will utilize several of Lt. Dillon’s suggestions from training my team guys. Specifically training under stress will be added to our training. I will also incorporate report writing into all of our training.
• More knowledge with body worn camera review and documenting more use of force incident types.
• It will enable me to review our department’s use of force policy and make changes if necessary.

Your lectures and training sessions have evolved over the years to now include a totality of law enforcement experiences in actual physical confrontations at the street level where Human Dynamics, Psychomotor Skills, and Physiology Factors are involved in decision-making for our law enforcement officers, and gives us a better understanding on WHY? law enforcement officers engage in physical force.

Many times, I have to attest to my training in front of judges to qualify as an expert-witness in criminal litigation against law enforcement officers, where government attorneys attempt to get me disqualified. Just recently, a Federal District Court judge in Washington DC questioned me on my expertise and training I received, I immediately through your name out to the judge and continued to explain your training, knowledge and expertise in this field. That your training instruction has developed over the years to be more inclusive dealing with physical confrontations of law enforcement officers, as well as the human factors we go through in physical confrontations. The judge was impressed, and I did get qualified as an expert-witness.

Trevor R. Hewick – Retired MPDC Detective Grade