Tactical De-escalation Techniques

Across the United States, police departments spend countless hours training officers on the use of force involving simple wrist locks and pressure points; chemical agents and physical strikes; and progressing to impact weapons and firearms.  While this type of training is absolutely critical for all law enforcement officers, agencies must provide proper “Tactical De-escalation Techniques” to officers as well.

In recent years, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has entered into “Consent Decrees” with numerous agencies.  As part of the consent decree, the DOJ requires agencies to train all of their officers in the use of de-escalation.  The principal Deputy Attorney General has stated, "De-escalation tactics are essential skills for police officers and departments both to help to ensure constitutional policing and to improve public safety and officer safety.”

Regardless of an agency or officers individual views of de-escalation tactics, it MUST be implemented into every police departments training program.  Many officers believe that the use of de-escalation techniques will jeopardize their safety and place them at a tactical disadvantage.  In reality, the proper use of de-escalation has the complete opposite effect.  Statistics and studies will show that it actually increases officers’ safety and places the officer in a more advantageous tactical position.

This one day training class will provide officers with the necessary tools to properly de-escalate a situation, while maintaining a tactical mindset.  Officers will learn effective techniques for communicating under stress, without escalating a situation.  Practical, classroom based scenarios will be presented to demonstrate these concepts.  Information will also be presented on the development of reality-based, simunition training involving de-escalation techniques.  This information will give officers a jump start on implementing de-escalation training within their own police departments.

This course was developed by two veteran instructors from one of the largest police departments in the United States.  Both instructors have used de-escalation techniques in critical incidents and hostile environments for most of their careers.