MI – L.E.A.D.S. – Active De-escalation Instructor Training for Law Enforcement and Corrections

Oakland County Sheriff’s Office – MI
 Hosts
L.E.A.D.S. – Active De-escalation Strategies 2 Day – Instructor Training
for Law Enforcement and Corrections
Live and Virtual
Dec,  11 – 12, 2025

It was both a pleasure and an honor to present our L.E.A.D.S.™ Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies Instructor Training for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office – MI from Dec. 11-12, 2025. The program was extremely well received, with participants demonstrating exceptional enthusiasm, dedication, and professionalism throughout the virtual plus two-day live course.  

This is what the team has to say!

Please assess the quality of this presentation.
100% of attending students rated this course at the highest level of 5 Excellent.
This is a great reminder for veteran officers because they‘ve more likely than been doing this. It’s a paramount course for new recruits.
Great use of video and explanation of the thought process with basic easy to understand science, anatomy, and Physiology, backing up the training material.
Lieutenant Dillon always does a great job of teaching and holding audiences attention. Videos were all good.
KD is always very well done.
As always, Lt. Dillon is extremely professional and knowledgeable. Information is very relevant and up to date.
The material was relevant and well put together. I found everything easy to follow and to understand.
Great material.
Based on research which backed up information.
Great curriculum, should be implemented into the Academy in department in services.
Great use of stories and anecdotes.
Always learn so much from you!
Kevin was engaging and personable.
Very good presentation. I can see how three days would have helped. Lots of information.
KD was great at keeping the attention of the students. Very animated and had a ton of relatable stories.

 Please assess the instructors of this program.

100% of attending students rated this course at the highest level of 5 Excellent.  Lt. Kevin Dillon (ret)
Kevin is passionate about the topics he instructs.
KD does an awesome job engaging class, is energetic and transfers to knowledge always enthusiastic and knowledgeable on the topics he is presenting.
Always the best training with KD.
The instructor was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and had great real-life stories.
Kevin is the best!
As always, great instructor.
Knowledgeable. Presented the material great. Good mix of stories and material.
One of the best instructors I have ever had!
Very engaging. Knows the material very well. No reading off PowerPoint.
KD is a true professional in very knowledgeable on this topic.

Please explain how this training will enable you to change or improve your present assignment.
100% of attending students rated this course at the highest level of 5 Excellent.
Helps explain the reasons behind the officers response to resistance training / incidents.
Help when I do response to resistance forms,  and training other how to speak to subjects for body worn camera purposes. More info in reports.
Gave me tools to slow down and think during different high stress incidents.
Implement the de-escalation teaching. Teach deputies on additional techniques.
New de-escalation tactics to try while working as well as a better understanding of the human response to stress and fear.
Help with communication skills.
This will help us in conducting our in-service and help distribute the message of de-escalation tactics to our deputies.
Reinforce my past practices of my style of policing.
Always looking to increase knowledge and it was interesting to hear about the brain in some physiology.
Will assist me with de-escalating deputies.
Learned some great ideas for interviewing and interrogating that I didn’t know before.
I will be able to better de-escalate situations.
As the training Sergeant responsible for bringing leads to our agency. The information taught by Kevin is crucial. His ideas on what to teach and how to teach it are spot on.
In addition to law enforcement we also teach civilians de-escalations, great for both.
This has allowed me to hone in on my de-escalation skills and now I am able to teach it.

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. 

STUDENT RATINGS!

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 $595.00
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.