21st Century Use of Force Investigations Course

After a re-examination of the Constitutional standards, state standards, and civil rights laws, the training, lecture, and content will focus on managing confrontations, interpretations of video-based evidence events, and the writing and investigation of the use of force incidents. This use of force investigations course was designed for law enforcement investigators to be able to have the necessary tools to investigate the use of force incidents.

Attendees will be provided with incidents that have occurred across the United States including the most recently settled case, filed cases, media cases, and seminal cases.

• Armstrong v. Pinehurst
• Kingsley Decision – (4th Amendment Standards in Jails)
• ADA case out of California
• DOJ Consent Decrees
• Yanez Case Review
• Noor Case Review and Implications

Attendees will be provided with examples on how to communicate with supervisors, and managers on how to handle the use of force incidents to ensure that the incident is completely investigated, document, and reviewed to protect those involved as well as the agency.

• Officers use of force reports
• Supervisors review of use of force
• Investigative reports for discipline
• Press releases and communicating with the media

Attendees will also be provided with examples of how to modify policies, and training to ensure that they can mitigate any potential civil litigation.

• Best practices on training policies
• Best practices in training
• Civil litigation and mitigation
• Use of force policies

Through lecture, video instruction, and exercises, attendees will learn the importance of drafting use of force reports under the proper constitutional and case law standards.  Attendees will review videos of use of force incidents and prepare reports interpreting the events.