In 2021, Arizona State University released the results of a 4 year-long study on the impact of de-escalation training within the Tempe Police Department.
The study found that in “combative encounters” officers who received just one-day of de-escalation training were 58% less likely to injure citizens in use of force encounters.
Officers who received the de-escalation training were also far more likely to try and build a rapport with the citizen, show empathy, and resolve the encounter informally.
That means not issue a ticket, citation, or make an arrest.
This study was a randomized controlled trial, so half of Tempe’s officers did the de-escalation training and half didn’t.
De-Escalation Defined
De-escalation is, in simple terms, any time an officer faces a civilian or suspect in a heightened state of emotion or aggression, and the officer attempts to use the least amount of force possible to get peaceful compliance.
Who Can Benefit from De-Escalation Training?
De-escalation is not just for law enforcement. De-escalation strategies are invaluable for virtually all professionals in a workplace environment from human resources staff and receptionists to managers and executives.
Master Instructor SGT. (Ret) Wayne Parker says the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. De-escalation and Situational Awareness course has been provided to school systems, healthcare providers, universities, security agents, juvenile corrections along with law enforcement.
“It’s designed with the first responder in mind,” Parker says. “The first responder is anyone who first comes into contact with a person who is in an escalated/agitated state.”
The course investigates 5 core concepts:
- The environment the process is taking place
- The people involved and their influences in the process
- Understanding non-verbal communication given from both the person the responder
- The actual de-escalation process
- How to take action to protect the person and the responder.
Common Methods, Tactics, and De-Escalation Strategies
An effective de-escalation course should teach the participant different methods, tractics, and strategies for calming a situation before it turns combative.
For example, a few concepts taught in Controlled F.O.R.C.E’s De-Escalation course include active listening, enhancing communication skills, threat Identification, and recognizing implicit bias.
Upon completion of the course of instruction, our participants are better prepared to mitigate and manage incidents with the de-escalation skills and techniques, leading to accurately assessing potentially violent confrontations and, when feasible, defuse them to avoid incidents leading to injury of staff or students and legal liabilities.
Controlled F.O.R.C.E.’s de-escalation training has been designed with streamlined specifications encouraging the course participant to critically think and constantly reevaluate the circumstances that have contributed to incidents of crisis, disruption or unacceptable behaviors.
I’d Like to Explore De-Escalation Training for My Employees, Officers, or Security Team
Local, state, and federal government officials are having more meaningful conversations about a need for de-escalation training. As a result, there are more state and federal grants available, for law-enforcement in particular, to receive this type of instruction.
If you have any questions about Controlled F.O.R.C.E. ‘s de-escalation training or any of the services we provide, please contact us and we’ll be in touch!
SOURCES:
ASU study https://ccj.asu.edu/content/asu-professor-studies-how-police-officers-manage-heightened-situations
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