Training, Tactics Evolve as Police Adapt to New Use of Force Rules

How can police officers pin a suspect to the ground, immobilize and handcuff him, then get him on his feet-all without touching his neck, slamming his head to the floor or wrenching his arms?

Four veteran police officers from Washington state's Criminal Justice Training Program demonstrated the technique during a session at NCSL's 2024 Legislative Summit-moves carefully designed to meet new state rules spelled out after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.

Washington was one of several states to act that first year; eventually, every state passed reforms, as reflected in NCSL's Policing Legislation Database. The sweeping reforms in Washington included banning chokeholds and no-knock raids and requiring extensive efforts to de-escalate before resorting to force.

"With consistent training, we can maximize the response (while) protecting the responding officers and individuals we deal with in the most dynamic and stressful events."

-Richard Peterson, Washington Criminal Justice Training Program

Richard Peterson, who manages the training center's use of force and defensive tactics program, says instituting the new methods proved complicated.

There was "a lot of distrust out there, a lot of people fighting back and forth, so the hardest part of our job is earning their trust," Peterson says. "We had to come together in Washington state to say, 'Hey, let's make a plan. Let's do it together for the safety of all parties involved.'"

Peterson says he worked with the people in the attorney general's office who wrote use of force rules based on the 12 laws legislators passed. He also met with groups closely involved in the discussions around reform.

And of course law enforcement officers needed to be reassured the methods would work.

"Why are we doing this? For the protection and safety of all parties involved," Peterson says. "With consistent training, we can maximize the response (while) protecting the responding officers and individuals we deal with in the most dynamic and stressful events."

The training covers ways officers should work together to maintain control but avoid aggression, such as how to lower a suspect to the ground while cushioning the landing, and how to position them to keep their airways open. Peterson says it includes when to use a billy club, and when to stop.

It also covers assessing the mental stability of a suspect and how to approach that situation.

Given the scope of the changes, all officers in the state needed to be trained. Peterson says they do in-person trainings and have created extensive videos with step-by-step instructions to reinforce the training and support officers who have yet to attend.

Peterson says using the methods in fast-moving situations requires practice.

"If you have to think about what you're going to do, what happens? You're going to struggle, you're going to panic, you're going to get nervous, you're going to get tired. You might make a bad decision," he says.

That's why Peterson wants annual training hours to increase to 20 from the current four. He acknowledges it's not a simple ask. Small departments find it hard to do without staffers in training, and large departments incur the cost of overtime to cover when officers are gone. But he says the investment is well worth it.

"A lot of people don't really think about that, but anytime use of force is not used right, it's a huge financial impact for them, for individual cities and counties, the reputation and financial impact," Peterson says.

Amber Widgery, a senior researcher with NCSL's Criminal and Civil Justice Program, says many states are focusing on crisis intervention and behavioral health, "both being able to recognize individuals who might be suffering from a mental illness, but also how to respond to those individuals who might be in crisis. And some of that has to do with connecting them to resources in the community or just how to better respond in a way that doesn't escalate that situation more."

Peterson says he's happy to share the extensive video library they've developed at the Washington Criminal Justice Training Program.

"We will provide you with all of our training, with all of our curriculum," he says. "We would love to give it to any state. It's yours."

Kelley Griffin is the host and producer of NCSL's "Across the Aisle" podcast.

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