In the wake of recent police shootings, the public and policy makers alike are calling for more police training and the application of de-escalation techniques. Police organizations strive to follow the National Institute on Justice (NIJ) guideline on use of force application. It states “Use of force is an officer’s last option — a necessary course of action to restore safety in a community when other practices are ineffective.”
In Canada, a recent review of use of force practices by the police when interacting with people in crisis has been published. The Iacobucci report recommends that police approaching individuals in crisis should ‘seek to minimize force altogether and above all, avoid lethal force wherever possible’ (Iacobucci, 2014).
An on-going challenge for police organizations has been the lack of available evidence-based training programs on use of force and de-escalation. A scientific approach to evaluating the effectiveness of new police training programs is the only way to determine if these programs do in-fact achieve the goal set out by NIJ and the Iacobucci report.
A University of Toronto team, led by Professor Judith Andersen, is addressing the gap in evidence-based police training. Together with police officers and administrators in North America and Europe, the team is conducting international research trials to develop a more effective, behaviour-training program that addresses critical decision making while under stress. The goal is to apply the best scientific techniques in combination with police best practices to improve the application of use of force and the utilization of de-escalation techniques.
The training program, designed by and for police officers and use of force trainers, is called the International Performance and Resilience Program (iPREP). The training provides officers with improved mental and physical control, leading to enhanced safety for officers and the communities they serve. The research is directed by Prof. Andersen at the Health Adaptation Research on Trauma (HART) Lab on the University of Toronto Mississauga campus.
About iPREP
Created by Police. Tested by Police. Used by Police. Validated by Research.
The International Performance Resilience and Efficiency Program (iPREP) trains use-of-force trainers and first responders on methods that improve mental and physical readiness in high-stress situations. Through effective, evidence-based resilience training, iPREP enhances situational awareness leading to improved critical decision making. For more information or to train your team in the iPREP methodology, visit http://proresilience.org