The Investigator's Guide to Use of Force
Is the officer lying when he says he cannot recall the number of shots fired? Is it really possible to not see people within the confines of a shotting scene? Should a different interview style be used on officers (and other victims of traumatic events)? Should a complete interview be done immediately after a police shooting?
Considering the complexities of biodynamics, the human mind, and the ever-evolving factors in law enforcement use of force situations, investigators have one opportunity to conduct a thorough investigation with bias. Over the course of three days, investigators assigned to investigate use of force incidents in the course of criminal investigations, agency policy review, or as an independent investigation team will be exposed to a variety of important subjects related to successful investigations including:
- Constitutional Use of Force Review (Tennessee v. Garner and Graham v. Connor);
- Perception and discernment of information from the environment;
- Memory and recall;
- The cognitive interview;
- Report writing; and
- Human dynamics related to deploying force.
Participants will engage in discussions, case studies, and exercises to better understand the concepts presented and their relationship to investigating force incidents. Successful completion of this course requires attendance at all three days of the course and passing of a comprehensive written examination. This course is taught by certified Force Science Analysts and use of force instructors who have significant experience.
The Supervisor's Guide to Use of Force
Initial responding supervisors to scenes involving an officer's use of force have a number of tasks to perform while balancing the needs of many: ensuring involved officers receive critical care, evidence is preserved, witnesses are located, superiors are notified, investigations commence, and statements obtained. Critical incidents require appropriate responses from those arriving to manage scenes where officers encountered resistance, but without creating additional risk in the handling of the scene and the officers involved.
This two-day course explores many concerns supervisors have when responding to scenes involving force. Upon completion of the course, supervisors will be able to:
- Identify the risks involved in taking comprehesive statements too soon;
- Effectively manage scenes immediately after a use of force;
- identify key components of an effectively written report documenting a use of force; and
- Identify key behavioral and human dynamic (physiological, biological, and biomechanical) factors present in use of force incidents and how to recognize the presence of these factors.
Successful completion of this course requires attendance at both days of the course and passing of a comprehensive written examination. This course is taught by certified Force Science Analysts and use of force instructors who have significant experience.
The Chief's Guide to Use of Force
A one-day course designed to meet the needs of a busy law enforcement executive's or manager's schedule, the focus becomes those issues most important to an executive when it comes to use of force incidents. As a result of the facilitation of the topics covered in this course, law enforcement maangers and executives will identify key concerns and what to do, including:
- Investigative bias;
- Policy development;
- The three concurrent investigations; and
- Physiological, biological, and biomechanical factors.
This course is taught by certified Force Science Analysts and use of force instructors who have significant experience.
Critical Responses to Critical Incidents
This one-day course takes a unique approach through instruction by a certified Force Science Analyst and a practicing civil rights attorney specializing in the defense of law enforcement officers. Timothy Janowick and Laura Scarry partner in this course to deliver timely and relevant information related to use of force incidents including recent case law, human factors in force incidents, and best practices to employ to mitigate risk, reduce bias, and develop comprehensive investigations and reports. The perspectives and experiences of a practicing attorney and a law enforcement executive cannot be beat!
For additional information on Laura Scarry, please see www.deanoandscarry.com.
Critical Issues in Response to Resistance
During this one-day course, participants explore the important issues related to responding to officer's encounters with resistance and the subsequent use of force. Contemporary issues and research will be combined with prevailing case law to provide food for thought when encountering the next use of force incident and considerations for implementing change in policy and the response mechanics to force incidents. The course is designed for trainers, policy developers, front line supervisors, managers, and executives.
Use of Force Instructor
Are you a defensive tactics instructor? Teach firearms? Conduct courses on intermediary weapons? You've taken the manufacturer's courses for their products, but have you taken a use of force instructor course to help you better teach weapons and tactics within the confines of prevailing federal law, case law, state law, and your department police? If not, this three-day course is for you. Objectives include understanding key case decisions, identifying policy considerations, identifying proper report writing techniques, describing scientific research relevant to the utilizing force to overcome resistance, and instructional techniques for teaching use of force to members of your agency. Successful completion of this course requires attendance at all three days of the course and passing of a comprehensive written examination.