FL – LEADS and Use of Force Coaching for the FTO

Criminal Justice Academy of Osceola FL
501 Simpson Road  Kissimmee, FL 34744

L.E.A.D.S.  – Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies
and Use of Force Analysis and Coaching  for Field Training Officers

Congratulations to the officers of FLA who attended and successfully completed the two-day program. The students participated actively throughout the two-day presentation.

This is what the students had to say.

Were there parts of the program you saw as particularly useful?

• The program was very helpful and exciting.
• The program was very informative and beneficial.
• Excellent, explaining how to breakdown details in the report to paint a better picture.
• Learning how to deescalate and how to include mitigating force techniques and report. Also, better communication to possibly avoid a use of force incident.
• The instructor was knowledgeable and able to answer all questions.
• The legal aspects on how to articulate details in reports. The psychological response to the why.
• It touched based on all important aspects of the training.
• The videos, stories from real-life examples.
• Maybe more hands-on learning, honestly it was one of the best classes I have been to. Definitely come back to another of his (Lt. Dillon)
• Maybe more time, another day.
• The integration of real-life scenarios in recent videos.
• Make it 40 hours because it’s fascinating.
• Perhaps an extra day, have the class do scenarios, practice report writing.
• The videos gave a better understanding to the concept being taught.
• The breakdown of the brain and how each part functions. Also the various de-escalation strategies.
• Watching the real videos and applying what was discussed.
• Many examples were provided about the subject, video PowerPoint and pictures to help me get a better idea
• The real-world examples solidify the necessity to use the techniques.
• Very important about what the form name for use of force and with customer service. Being able to communicate, engage versus retreat. No more limbic fear
• The breakdown of the use of force and how to apply it in a stressful situation.
• The program was up to date with current information it was a great program more videos could be helpful.

Today every use of force incident is scrutinized frame by frame on a video and judged by untrained individuals creating distrust and false narratives. Our Field Training Officers are our PRIMARY coaches and INSTRUCTORS but are often not any more trained in de-escalation and use of force than the recruit they are training. De-escalation strategies, use of force mitigation, analysis, investigation, and training is a complex continually evolving issue. This 2-day training session is designed for Field Training Officers. The training will examine how to apply de-escalation strategies in the real world, how to document those de-escalation tactics, and force mitigation strategies. How to make use of force decisions, select appropriate actions and report accurately.

The L.E.A.D.S. training program is a nationally recognized program reviewed and approved by the United States Department of Justice.

• Understand how implicit biases can affect perceptions and behavior.
• Identifying indications of hostility through body language
• Develop skills and tactics to reduce the influence of bias on police practice.
• Learn and understand the value of tracking service in law enforcement
• Learn how to avoid communications that may be negative and make positive
• Learn methods of effective verbal de-escalation strategies
• Understanding physiological changes during aggression
• Learn to use cognitive limitations for active diffusion
• Learn methods to re-direct the thought process through positive direction
• Learn the importance of emotional intelligence in law enforcement
• Communications and response to Special Populations
  • ( example – mental illness, autism, and other disabilities)

• Identifying Agitated Chaotic Events
• Identify evidence-based characteristics associated with excited delirium
• Learn methods of motivational interviewing skills
• Learn use of force definitions and proper terminology
• The application of the Fourth Amendment to use of force
• Constitutional Force Standards
• Three essential steps in use of forces decision making
• Define serious use of force areas
• Discuss officer behavior and accountability issues
• Discuss de-escalation strategies and how to report it
• Discuss human attention and how it relates to use of force
• Discuss use of force tracking, trending, reporting and analysis
• To apply force application to police report writing
• Discuss Electronic Control Weapons issues trends and training
• Discuss training issues and voids
• Case study – DOJ Use of force tracking in Juvenile Detention – Rikers Island
• Discuss Quantum of force and how it apply to force options
• What information do you want to track and how will it be used
• Discuss factors needed for analysis of a use of force incident
• Quantifying use of force deployments
• Coaching de-escalation techniques
• Instructing and coaching methods

TO REGISTER – Officers interested in attending must contact their agency training division for approval. A signed agency training authorization form or CJAO 15A registration form must be completed and emailed or faxed to the Academy by authorized training personnel prior to the start of class. Forms can be sent to nancy.goyette@osceolaschools.net or faxed to 407-962-5265.

For Assistance Call:

Dawn Gereau
Lead Training Coordinator
Region VII Fiscal Agent
Criminal Justice Academy of Osceola
Osceola Technical College
501 Simpson Road – Kissimmee, FL 34744
(407) 344-5080, ext. 15104
dawn.gereau@osceolaschools.net