RI – Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies Instructor Certification

Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy
Hosting
L.E.A.D.S. -Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies
(3) Day Instructor Training
Sept. 3 – 4, 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 at the RI Municipal Police Training Academy
from Sept. 3-5, 2025. The training was extremely well received, with students demonstrating outstanding enthusiasm, dedication, and professionalism throughout the three-day session.

Student Evaluation Summary
Please assess the quality of this presentation.
Instructors Lt. Kevin Dillon (ret) Lt. Dave Bissonnette, Steve Lombardi

Useful, educational and realistic. The review of understanding the brain structure in emotional and physiological responses will greatly assist in my interviews.
Detective, 20 years’ experience

 Great quality, understood all topics thoroughly as each one went over us numerous times. Will implement this training on a daily basis and hopefully assist with training other officers.
Patrol officer, 3 year experience

 I will be able to understand people and hopefully be able to deescalate people when they are operating in their limbic system. It will also make me more aware of staying in my own prefrontal and not creating a game of limbic ping pong.
Patrol officer 1 year experience

 I thought it was very good, there was a good mix of PowerPoint in demonstrations. This training will allow me to bring this knowledge back to my department.
Patrol officer 1 year experience

Excellent instruction and instructors. I will be able to instruct my department’s officers in this material.
Public safety officer 35 years’ experience

Lots of real examples that keep me listening. Fantastic instructors were all full of knowledge.
Patrol officer 1.5 years’ experience

This course has excellent information. The instructors did a great job of explaining the topics
Patrol Officer 14 years’ experience

 As always 5 star. Very realistic, clear and clearly understood the material.
Police officer 30+ years’ experience

Presentation and experience were very valuable to hear and make the connection to the material really enjoyed the instructors, making the course enjoyable.
Training Sergeant 5 years

Great job going back over the information and hitting the main parts.
Patrol officer 3 years’ experience

User friendly information. Easy to comprehend instructors were dynamic, likeable knowledgeable and highly articulate.
Patrol officer 11 years’ experience

Constant movement and use of different mediums. Never lost my attention.
Patrol officer 4 years’ experience

 KD always does a great job of communicating the course information to us.
Training coordinator

Presentation was excellent. The materials are very informative in understandable. This training will help me provide a better input on de-escalation from my department.
Training coordinator 7 years’ experience

Good presentations, three different styles but they all had the same outcome of de-escalation. Gave me confidence in teaching leads in our department. I was really able to learn and understand how the brain works. Deputy sheriff 14 years’ experience

Great presentation, ability to relate and explain many examples provided. I am on the road and interacting.
Patrol officer 3 years’ experience

great strategies! Learn new de-escalation strategies
Patrol officer 3 years’ experience

The instructors are always knowledgeable and keep your attention. Despite having attended this training multiple times I still managed to gain a new tool or process to add to my toolkit.
 SRO 20 years’ experience

  The award-winning L.E.A.D.S.™ (Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies) training program is a practical and easy-to-use communication system designed to address interpersonal confrontations. This program enhances communication skills, assists in de-escalating engagements, reduces complaints and liability, and improves officer safety and survival. In this comprehensive 3-Day Instructor Course, participants will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to train officers in correctional and law enforcement environments. They will learn how to deliver the L.E.A.D.S.™ curriculum in various formats, including 2-hour, 4-hour, 8-hour, or 12-hour training sessions.

INSTRUCTIONAL GOAL:
Through a combination of lectures, demonstrations, role-playing, and practical scenario-based applications, this course trains students and prepares instructors in the L.E.A.D.S.™ Plus T – Law Enforcement Active Diffusion Strategies and Tactical Options Program. This classroom-based program focuses on equipping instructors with essential communication skills, effective de-escalation techniques, and combat confrontation avoidance strategies.

Participants will learn to recognize aggressive behaviors and implement techniques to prevent escalation. The course emphasizes Active Diffusion Strategies that help avoid or resolve negative interactions through proven de-escalation methods. Additionally, it covers tactical responses for situations where diffusion tactics are either inappropriate or ineffective and introduces distraction techniques to enhance the success of tactical applications.

The training incorporates lectures, demonstrations, and case studies to ensure a comprehensive and practical learning experience.

 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.

The L.E.A.D.S. ™ Plus T – Law Enforcement Active Diffusion Strategies and Tactical Options was developed in 2007 receiving national recognition.  It has been presented and established curriculum in the states of CT, RI, MA, ND, ME, MN, MO, MI, SD, CO, AK, CA, AZ, WY, TX, FL, NE, HI and NM. Agencies under a Federal Consent Decree have had the L.E.A.D.S. ™ curriculum reviewed and approved by the United States Department of Justice as part of the Consent agreement.

The FBI National Academy Associates – 2022 Science and Innovation Award

The selection committee unanimously selected L.O.C.K.U.P. Arrest and Control Training and L.E.A.D.S. Law Enforcement Active Diffusion Strategies Training Systems over all other nominees as the recipient of the 2022 Science and Innovation Award. “The L.O.C.K.UP. training differentiated itself from other Defensive tactics programs being instructed throughout the country. L.O.C.K.U.P. is 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.”   FBI National Academy Associates – Charitable Foundation Award

Course Announcement
ONLY $695.00
REGISTER HERE

Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy
1762 Louisquisset Pike – Lincoln, RI 02865
Contact – Gary Driscoll
Director of Continuing Education 
gary.driscoll@risp.gov / 401-205-1678 (Desk)