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MI – L.E.A.D.S. – Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies 3 Day – Instructor Training

Oakland County Sheriff’s Office – MI
 Hosts
L.E.A.D.S. – Active De-escalation Strategies 3 Day – Instructor Training
for Law Enforcement and Corrections
July 29-31, 2025  – 0800 – 1630

Oakland County Sheriff’s Office going to train over 1000 officers in L.E.A.D.S.! It was a pleasure and honor to present our training program – L.E.A.D.S. Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies Instructor Training July 29-31, 2025 at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office!  Officers from the Oakland County Sheriff’s office along with Troy and City of Farmington MI attended the course. The training was very well received by all attendees, they displayed high levels of enthusiasm, dedication and professionalism throughout the 3 day training session. A review of the course evaluations revealed an overwhelming satisfaction rating from the class.

 
What the students had to say!

Please provide a written comment on the quality of the presentation?
100% of attending students rated this in the highest category as excellent.

  • Presentation was well prepared, and the use of aids helped learn the material
  • Very useful info, presentation was great, knowledge gained
  • Great program. I took a lot of great pieces to utilize professionally and personally.
  • Instructor was very knowledgeable and informative and very well explained
  • Excellent presentation. Kept me engaged and interested in fantastic a lot of great info for seasoned deputies and newer deputies on how to de-escalate.
  • Very engaging and informal
  • Great quality of presentation KD makes information enjoyable and engaging. His high energy only adds to the experience.
  • The presentation was top quality and was presented well.
  • Always great!
  • Very knowledgeable on the content and transfer the information well to the class very well organized and put together good topics, no material. 

Please assess the instructors of this program. Lt. Kevin Dillon (ret)

  • KD did a great job presenting aside from the presentation
  • Excellent Mr. Dillon is the SME for de-escalation. Very engaging, intelligent and worthwhile
  • Great!
  • Excellent
  • Amazing speaker
  • KD is a wealth of knowledge and great presenter
  • Very knowledgeable, including relevant anecdotes and bridges material to other areas, describes applicability
  • KD is a phenomenal instructor
  • KD is clearly a subject matter expert the level of knowledge is impressive
  • Engaged the class well and kept our attention throughout the three days
  • Well prepared and organized

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

  • I will teach these concepts to my department members including dispatchers
  • De-escalation is useful in nearly all facets of my current work assignment.
  • This train the trainer class also helped with my abilities to instruct I can use the science behind techniques in interviews.
  • Help in day-to-day work functions in operations as well as my personal life
  • It will assist me with extracting info from people while conducting interviews
  • As a training Sergeant this is absolutely relevant, and we will be implementing
  • upcoming in service and corrections Academy rollout
  • The person will be a part of our agencies in service
  • It will promote communication with inmates. Preventing resistance and the need to use force with response to that resistance
  • Good information to teach to the class for in service
  • Through this training I’ll be able to instruct our department and leads the escalation. Passing these techniques along will make all deputies safer and their job roles
  • I have already begun to use techniques learned in this class
  • Bring new training to our pass on to others within the Sheriff’s Office
  • Help bringing a situation under control

This FBI  National Academy Associates Award winning nationally recognized  conflict resolution de-escalation certification course. The L.E.A.D.S. – Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies Training  was developed in 2007 and is being used throughout the United States. 

Through lectures, demonstrations, role play, and practical scenario applications, this course is an instructor level program designed  to qualify students in the L.E.A.D.S. ™ – Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies . The course is classroom based to educate and train instructors in positive communications skills, effective de-escalation techniques, anger management and combat confrontation avoidance techniques. The course teaches how to recognize aggressive behaviors and keep them from  escalating. Students learn Active De-escalation Strategies that can avoid or resolve negative interactions by employing effective de-escalation methods. This course also discusses  tactical responses to use when diffusion tactics are inappropriate or ineffective and teaches distraction techniques that promote the success of tactical applications. 

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES:

Understanding Human Behavior and Conflict

  • Discuss the psychophysiological aspects of human performance and how they relate to conflict resolution.
  • Identify how oxygenated blood activity in the brain (pre-frontal cortex) is affected by anger, leading to irritability, impulsivity, and confusion.
  • Understand the impact of rational thought during stress or anger, and how it is minimized in these states.
  • Discuss the pre-frontal cortex and limbic systems of the brain and how they address conflict.
  • Examine how the brain forms neurological imprints based on past experiences, responding to current stimuli with past practices (Evidence-Based Training Methods).
  • Understand the concepts of “change blindness” and “in-attentional blindness” and how they affect cognitive responses during conflict.
  • Identify the principles of “focus of attention” and how it applies in conflict responses.

Emotional Control and De-escalation Techniques

  • Discuss how to control angry brain patterns and why officers must manage their emotional responses through the “Locus of Control.”
  • Define and apply the three Cs of Conflict Resolution: Cooperation, Control, and Cover (including backup plans).
  • Learn methods for controlling emotional responses and redirecting negative thought patterns through positive techniques.
  • Understand the importance of “Teaming” terminology to create subconscious bonds and foster cooperation.
  • Discuss motivational interviewing techniques to improve problem-solving and de-escalation outcomes.
  • Learn strategies for tactical relocations and stalling techniques to avoid confrontations.
  • Discuss the importance of displaying empathy and respect during communications, especially with agitated subjects or special populations.
  • Learn to acknowledge the subject’s emotion first and then address the issue at hand.
  • Discuss the principles of strategic responses as an option to mitigate the use of force.

Communication and Body Language

  • Identify effective verbal de-escalation strategies and discuss how to create “Agreements of Communication.”
  • Identify and use body language for both positive and threatening communications.
  • Learn to use Blending and Redirection techniques during conversations to develop neural resonance.
  • Identify the basic neuro-linguistic programming principles in relation to verbiage used in de-escalation.

Special Populations and High-Stress Situations

  • Discuss appropriate responses for special populations (e.g., mental illness, autism, disabilities) when engaging in de-escalation efforts.
  • Discuss the steps for addressing subjects in an agitated state, ensuring a safe and controlled response.

Training Techniques and Instructor Development

  • Facilitate breakout sessions for role-playing exercises to practice de-escalation techniques in real-world scenarios.
  • Learn to conduct classroom instruction and scenario-based exercises to effectively teach de-escalation and conflict resolution.
  • Understand adult learning principles and how they apply to scenario-based and classroom facilitation.
  • Learn teaching methodologies and how to engage students effectively in both classroom and practical training environments.

Use of Force and Legal Considerations

  • Discuss how de-escalation or the lack thereof can influence legal outcomes in use-of-force incidents.
  • Understand the importance of tracking and trending both use-of-force incidents and de-escalation successes to improve training and outcomes.

ONLY $695.00
REGISTER HERE

LOCATION of TRAINING:
Oakland County Sheriff’s – MI 1200 N Telegraph Rd. – Building 38
East Pontiac MI 48341
Sgt. Nicholas Stoner
Email – Stonerns@oakgov.com / 248-613-0854

FBI National Academy Associates 2022 Science & Innovation Award Presented to L.O.C.K.U.P.
The L.O.C.K.UP. training differentiated itself from other Defensive tactics programs being instructed throughout the country. Not a technique-based training system but the emphasis is on the actual collection of data on the use of force incidents, and detailed reporting to  determine the effectiveness and needs assessments of the officers on the street.

 

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