Project Grant 15JCOPS25GG00859DETX

THE DE-ESCALATION INITIATIVE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS COMPRISED OF TWO COMPONENTS, FORCE SCIENCE DE-ESCALATION TRAINING FOR A QUALIFIED POOL OF INSTRUCTORS TO INCREASE PATROL DEPUTIES AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICER'S ABILITIES TO VERBALLY DE-ESCALATE UNCOOPERATIVE, SUICIDAL AND BARRICADED SUBJECTS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TWO NEW THROW PHONES TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATIONS DURING HIGH RISK CALLS. FORCE SCIENCE DE-ESCALATION PROVIDES STAFF WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION, EVALUATE RISKS AND ASSESS SITUATIONS IN REAL TIME TO SELECT THE MOST EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUE TO IMPLEMENT TO REDUCE USE OF FORCE AND PROMOTE PEACEFUL RESOLUTIONS TO INCIDENTS. FORCE SCIENCE TRAINING FOCUSES ON THE SCENARIO BASED TRAINING THAT TEACHES IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS THAT INCREASE THE PROBABILITY OF FORCE BEING USED AND TACTICS TO BUILD RAPPORT AND DE-ESCALATE SO A MINIMAL LEVEL OF FORCE IS USED. FORCE SCIENCE IS A RESEARCH BASED APPROACH THAT IS RECOGNIZED AS A CONTINUED LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION CREDIT THROUGH THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS FOR BOTH CORRECTIONAL AND SWORN STAFF WILL UNDERGO BASIC DE-ESCALATION INSTRUCTOR TRAINING ALONG WITH ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS TO ENSURE A HIGH LEVEL OF COMPETENCE IN DE-ESCALATION. THESE INSTRUCTORS WILL THEN TRAIN ALL CORRECTIONAL AND SWORN STAFF IN DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES DURING YEARLY TRAININGS ENSURING A SUSTAINABLE AND COST EFFECTIVE METHOD OF INCREASING THE ABILITIES OF ALL STAFF. IN ADDITION TO THE TRAININGS, PORTABLE AND EASILY DEPLOYED THROW PHONES WILL BE PURCHASED TO ALLOW FBI TRAINED NEGOTIATORS TO ADVANCE TWO WAY COMMUNICATIONS DURING HIGH RISK INCIDENTS TO FURTHER REDUCE USE OF FORCE AND FORCEFUL INTERVENTION BY ALLOWING COMMUNICATIONS WITHOUT CONFRONTATIONAL CONTACT. THE GOAL OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO REDUCE THE USE OF FORCE BY DEPUTIES PATROLLING KENOSHA COUNTY AND CORRECTIONAL STAFF IN BOTH CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES OPERATED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.