WI – Use of Force: Leadership, Decision Making and Review For Law Enforcement and Correctional Professionals

Madison WI Police Department
Hosts
Use of Force: Leadership, Decision Making and Review
For Law Enforcement and Correctional Professionals
April 8 -9, 2026  0830 – 1630 Hours

It was both an honor and a pleasure to present our Use of Force Analysis for Law Enforcement Leaders course at your agency on April 8 – 9, 2026. The training brought together officers from multiple law enforcement agencies from the surrounding areas, fostering a collaborative and engaging learning environment.

Overall, the course was extremely well received. Participants consistently described the training as engaging, relevant, and highly informative, particularly in the areas of data-driven decision-making, use-of-force analysis, and report writing.

Student Evaluation Summary
Program Evaluation – Presentation Quality

Representative Student Feedback:

• “Kept your attention—little to none of the class was on their electronics, which is rare.”
• “Thorough and attentive to detail.”
• “Training provided valuable insight into data-driven decision-making.”
• “Useful suggestions on report writing and documenting use-of-force data.”
• “Material was engaging—I was looking forward to each next segment.”
• “Very knowledgeable and engaging presentation.”
• “Excellent use of real-world examples, especially courtroom considerations.”
• “Great use of video and practical application.”
• “A lot of valuable material—almost like three days packed into two.”
• “Like drinking from a firehose—in a good way.”

Instructor Evaluation – Lt. Kevin F. Dillon (Ret.)

Participants rated the instruction highly, consistently noting strong subject matter expertise, energy, and the ability to connect complex topics to real-world application.

Representative Feedback:

• “Highly engaging, knowledgeable, and passionate.”
• “Excellent at keeping the class attentive and involved.”
• “Very knowledgeable on use-of-force, human performance, and current case law.”
• “Relates material effectively to real-world law enforcement experiences.”
• “Professional, respectful, and informative.”
• “Communicates well with experienced officers and leadership personnel.”

Application to Field Operations

Participants clearly identified how the training will impact their current roles, particularly in use-of-force review, documentation, and training development.

Key Themes from Student Feedback:

• Improved ability to objectively evaluate use-of-force incidents beyond video review alone
• Enhanced understanding of data collection and analysis to support training and policy decisions
• Strengthened skills in report writing and articulation
• Increased awareness of human performance factors in both officer and subject behavior
• Intent to implement or expand use-of-force tracking and measurement systems
• Application of concepts to supervisory review and command-level decision-making

Representative Comments:

• “This will help me better evaluate use-of-force cases within my department.” – Chief of Police (29 years)
• “Provides a deeper understanding beyond simply reviewing video.” – Lieutenant
• “Will assist with proper documentation and use-of-force reviews.” – Patrol Sergeant
• “Will help train and develop other subject matter experts.” – Captain
• “I plan to bring this material back to my command staff.” – Patrol Sergeant
• “This will improve how we track and analyze use-of-force data.”
• “Understanding human performance adds another layer to analyzing officer response.”

Summary

The program successfully met its objectives by providing participants with a structured, defensible approach to:

• Use-of-force decision-making
• Data-driven analysis and measurement
• Report writing and articulation
• Integration of human performance principles

Participants left with practical tools and strategies that can be immediately applied within their agencies to enhance training, supervision, and organizational accountability.

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:
Madison Police Training Center
5702 Femrite Dr. – Madison, WI  53718
Host Contact- Crystal Meyer -Training Coordinator
cmeyer3@cityofmadison.com

 

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