Sessions at the Use of Force Summit 2024
Live Training Conference on December 3 - 5 at Mohegan Sun
Keynote Sessions
Opening Keynote: Current Trends – SCOTUS and Reasonable Interpretation – Attorney Eric Daigle, Daigle Law Group
This keynote session delves into Supreme Court rulings and anticipated rulings that directly impact use-of-force policies and practices. The discussion will focus on how SCOTUS decisions have shaped the interpretation of “reasonableness” under the Fourth Amendment, influencing law enforcement’s use of force in the field. Looking forward to the anticipated ruling in the SCOTUS interpretation of the 5th Circuit Decision Barnes v. Felix. Attendees will understand how these judicial trends affect the standards officers must meet when making split-second decisions, as well as the implications for policy development, training, and accountability. This session is vital for law enforcement professionals and legal advisors aiming to align use-of-force practices with the latest legal precedents.
Officer Created Jeopardy – Attorney Eric Daigle, Daigle Law Group
This keynote session examines the concept of “officer-created jeopardy,” where an officer’s actions or tactical decisions prior to a use-of-force incident contribute to the creation of a dangerous situation. The session will explore legal precedents, real-world case studies, and the implications these situations have on the standard of “reasonableness” in use-of-force incidents. Attendees will learn strategies to avoid unnecessary risks, reduce liability, and improve decision-making under pressure. This session is critical for officers, supervisors, and trainers seeking to enhance tactical practices and minimize the legal and operational challenges associated with officer-created jeopardy.
Application of Force Science Research – Discerning Critical Performance Elements – Dr. Bill Lewinski, Ph.D. – Founding Partner & Co-Owner at FORCE SCIENCE®
In complex, rapidly unfolding, dynamic and threatening situations, human performance elements are often difficult to discern, particularly for the uninformed or uninterested. This presentation will focus on multiple cases where FS was able to detect critical performance elements that were influential in clarifying the incident for the trier of fact. The sequence will involve a brief case presentation, the FS research supporting the application of that element to the case, and an animation illustrating the effect.
Biomechanics from Video Evidence – Geoffrey Thor Desmoulin Principal – GTD Scientific Inc
Video is the most prolific form of forensic evidence. Hence, this course aims to identify how physics related to a complex human injury can be provided when the violent incident or portions thereof have been captured in a camera frame. Techniques such as 3D scans, photogrammetry, inverse photogrammetry, reverse projection, biomechanical models and movement patterns using live humans can be used as key investigative tools to assess a use-of-force incident. These concepts will be solidified through multiple real-world case studies.
Use of Force Analysis – What Leaders Need to Know – Lt. Kevin F. Dillon – LOCKUP Police Training (ret)
The training will examine the most recent and up to date issues that specifically impact command, first line and trainers concerning use of force incidents. This presentation concentrates on multiple issues ranging from daily citizen / inmate encounters and investigative issues involving the use of force. Focus will be on identifying human performance factors, use of force incidents and how to track and trend patterns and practices. Instruction uses lectures and demonstrations. You can’t manage what you don’t measure. This is a customized program that was developed by nationally recognized Use of Force Trainer, Lieutenant Kevin Dillon (ret)
legal track
4 Legal Hacks to Reduce Officer Injury Liability – Attorney Eric Atstupenas, General Counsel Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association
Tag You’re It! The Duty to Intervene & Bystander Liability – Attorney Eric Atstupenas, General Counsel for the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association
Training Officer Liability – Attorney Eric Daigle, Daigle Law Group
The role of a Training Officer is pivotal in shaping the practices and behavior of staff, directly influencing their readiness and performance. This session will address legal responsibilities and emerging trends affecting training officers, emphasizing the critical nature of their duties in a legal context. As law enforcement practices evolve and public scrutiny intensifies, Training Officers must stay informed about legal standards and effective training methodologies. The session covers recent case laws, liability issues, and best practices to ensure Training Officers are well-equipped to provide effective and legally sound training.
You have just been involved in an OIS, now what? A Union Perspective – Attorney Ronald J. Pugliese Jr. – Law Office of Eric R. Brown/ Nutmeg Independent Labor Unions
This program will walk officers through the immediate steps after being involved in a shooting or serious use of force incident. The program will cover securing the scene, giving a public safety statement, handling evidence, removing the officer from the scene, and the importance of time and administrative leave. Also covered will be the different types of investigations an officer can expect and when and how interviews and reports are handled. Lastly, this program will touch on the short and long-term effects of involvement in a critical incident and what it takes to get to work.
Crowd Control First Amendment Protection – Attorney Eric Daigle, Daigle Law Group
This seminar examines the who, what, when, where, and why of interviews for force investigations. From the unique aspects and challenges of interviewing a law enforcement officer, to when an interview should be conducted after a critical incident, this seminar cuts through the controversy with a science-based approach for maximizing memory retrieval and communication.
Tactical Operation Legal Update – Attorney Eric Daigle, Daigle Law Group
This seminar will review the standards and case law applicable to the use of a tactical team and tactical-related issues. The purpose is to identify the current legal challenges and successes directly related to tactical operations and tactical-related equipment. These cases are reviewed for operators and commanders to understand the basis of force decisions and how to meet the constitutional requirements of the Fourth Amendment.
Use of Force Review Boards – Attorney Eric Daigle, Daigle Law Group
This seminar will identify recommended practices to ensure an effective force review board. From policy to guide its process and the use of subject matter experts to analyze the daily force operations.
Officer Involved Shooting: Different Perspectives – Attorney Eric Daigle, Daigle Law Group
This seminar will examine the investigative best practices for providing a standardized and systematic approach to deadly force and in-custody death investigations.
force investigations track
This seminar will review the operational standards to identify an effective force reporting and investigation process. Developing an effective report form and collection of necessary data to identify risk. Identify a process to evaluate policy and training interpretation.
Perception-Response Times for Use of Force Investigations – Dr. Paul Taylor, University of Colorado Denver
This presentation will survey the research on perception-response times for shooting tasks and will demonstrate how these important studies can be appropriately applied to the analysis of real-world OIS cases.
Developing a Dedicated Use of Force Unit: Review, Analysis, Data Collection, and Training – Lieutenant Matthew Botterbusch, New Castle County Division of Police
This presentation delves into the creation of a cutting-edge Use of Force Review Unit, dedicated to thorough data collection, analysis, and training through a detailed review of all use of force incidents within an agency. It explores the complex relationship between human perception and video evidence, addressing common distortions often overlooked in investigations. By distinguishing between an officer’s subjective perspective and objective facts, the presentation offers insights into developing policies and evidence-based training to enhance officer performance.
The Difference between Critique and Analysis in Force Investigations – Corporal Kevin E. Selverian, Pennsylvania State Police
Science Based Interviewing for Use of Force Investigations – Captain Christian Cory, Wichita Police Department/Project Aletheia – John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Overcoming Hurdles to Success in Force Investigations – Lieutenant Collin Congleton, Jersey City Police Department
The Expectations and Buzzwords that Compromise Investigations – Nicole Florisi, Force Science
The Limitations of Video for Use of Force Investigations – Lewis ‘Von’ Kliem, Esq., Force Science Institute
command track
This session will address how communication impacts human beings as well as police use of force situations. Here we explore how the erosion of basic communication skills has contributed to police use of force. So how do we regain these valuable tools, apply sound interpersonal communication, empathize with others and accomplish safe and effective resolutions to conflicts while reducing use of force situations? This training segment will identify the problems and provide sound strategies for application both in policing and in your personal life.
The Implementation of Social Workers into Law Enforcement Operations – Attorney Joseph Race – Daigle Law Group
In the ever-evolving landscape of law enforcement/community relations, the integration of social workers into law enforcement operations has emerged as one approach for addressing complex societal issues with empathy, compassion, and a focus on community well-being. The role of law enforcement in our society has expanded greatly beyond our core functions of patrol operations and criminal investigations. Today, our officers’ calls for service consist of a myriad of non-criminal “investigations” and other community welfare situations. To address these ever-expanding responsibilities, while adhering to our core functions and upholding our duty of care to our communities, some agencies have implemented social workers in various capacities, into their operations. This presentation will examine the various administrative structures for implementing social workers into your law enforcement operations including challenges presented by each administrative model.
(ALL NEW) Accreditation Standards for Use of Force – Attorney Joseph Race – Daigle Law Group
This course will explore the use of force accreditation standards that are part of every law enforcement accreditation process, whether CALEA or state accreditation. However, rather than focusing on the incident itself, we will focus on the issues following the incident itself. We will examine accreditation standards and reporting requirements – including how we document de-escalation, the administrative review process and the annual analysis. Additionally, we will discuss new use of force technologies and how these fit into the accreditation standards, even if the standards haven’t yet caught up to the technology.
Impact of Unreasonable Use of Force – Chief Terri Wilfong (Ret.) – Daigle Law Group
The session will discuss the effects of unreasonable force used by officers, ways in which legitimate use of force becomes the norm of agencies.
The Gold Standard: Flipping the narrative on police use of force. – Chief of Police Sean Case – Anchorage Police Department
In 2020, approximately 53.8 million people aged 16 or older had one or more contacts with police. Approximately 2% (or just over 1 million) result in some level of force. The most dramatic change to policing, specifically use of police force, came after the events of 2020. We now find a collision between the demand to use less force while increasing number of officers and their pay. Police leaders need to create a gold standard to ensure the use of force culture within our departments do not react to the narrative but rather create the narrative. Concepts covered include:
- Awareness of the use of force culture
- Knowledge of attitudes held by officers (patrol, specialty teams, & training)
- Ensuring there is a high level of competency and knowledge surrounding use of force.
- Professionalism increasing with experience.
- Tabletop exercises with city managers, PIO’s, DOJ, elected officials, trusted partners within the media, and public interest groups.
Officer Involved Shooting Investigations: 2020 has now fully impacted our investigations. – Chief of Police Sean Case – Anchorage Police Department
Failure to intervene, the use of grand jury, and granting immunity to officers has created new challenges while investigating Officer Involved Shootings. This course is a new look at the tried-and-true process. Concepts covered include:
- Increased use of grand juries to indict officers after an OIS.
- Witness officers or subjects of criminal failure to intervein investigations.
- The reluctance of prosecutors to grant immunity for any officer during an OIS investigation.
- Reenforcing the basics of Garrity.
Tactical and Operational Decision-Making Frameworks – Commander Jeffrey S Selleg (Ret.) – National Tactical Officer’s Association
This seminar aims to expose the students to high-level, tactical decision-making from the perspective of a law enforcement leader. Research has shown that the best decision-makers possess a problem-solving methodology. This course exposes students to a systematic decision-making model for tactical (happening right now) incidents and a framework for problem-solving at operational level courses of action during more complex incidents. The concepts are supplemented with video decision-making exercises to reinforce the models.
training track
NTOA Public Order Use of Force – Captain (Ret.) Spencer Fomby – National Tactical Officers Association
Captain Spencer Fomby (Ret.) will cover the best practices for police use of force during a protest event. This session will address individual uses of force by officers, use of chemical agents and impact munitions, mass detentions/arrests, arrest team tactics, planning, and command and control.
L.E.A.D.S. LE Active De-escalation Strategies – A Measurable Method – Lt. Kevin F. Dillon – LOCKUP Police Training (ret)
The L.E. Active De-escalation Strategies program focuses on how to recognize aggression and how not to stimulate aggression. The program is based on the nationally recognized and award winning L.E.A.D.S. Law Enforcement active De-escalation Strategies Program. Lt. Dillon will discuss the importance and value of effective communications and de-escalation skills as they apply to all public services ranging from first interactions to continual service. We will also discuss the misrepresentation of de-escalation, how “De-escalation” is used illusion is used against law enforcement in litigation by attorney’s and how to quantify and measure it. Attendees will discuss Active De-escalation Strategies that can avoid or resolve interactions by employing effective communications skills, tactical de-escalation, relocation methods and how to document the actions within the report. We will learn basic steps on how to validate what the officers are in fact doing in the street.
Building a Complete Integrated Use of Force Program– Lieutenant Michael R. Creter – Form60; Hartford Police Dept; L.O.C.K.U.P.
This course is designed to help law enforcement officers move beyond traditional block training and embrace a fully integrated approach to use of force. By interleaving lessons of legal frameworks, hands-on techniques, less-lethal options, lethal force, and de-escalation strategies into one cohesive training environment, officers will learn how to seamlessly transition between tools and tactics. The focus is on developing the skills to assess and adapt in real-time, to evaluate the level of force needed to effectively manage a wide range of situations. This dynamic scenario-based training, prepares officers to respond with confidence, competence, and control in any use-of-force scenario.
How We Train Matters as Much as What We Train, Teaching Use of Force Decision Making – Lieutenant Michael R. Creter – Form60; Hartford Police Dept; L.O.C.K.U.P.
How you present and transfer information during training is just as important as the material you are training. This course will discuss training methods and techniques to assist with the transfer of information to students intended for retention and retrieval. Use of Force decision making specifically will be covered, with the goal of training new officers to perform sound decision making in use of force situations where time is of the essence.
Addressing the Reluctant Officer: Is it Failure or Hesitancy – Chief of Police Sean Case – Anchorage Police Department
With calls for police reforms across the country, anti-law enforcement legislature, politicians, mainstream, social media all judging and scrutinizing every action of a law enforcement officer. All these factors play heavily on police officers’ reluctance to use force. There is a call from experts and trainers from across the county on how to deal with these issues. There are multiple reasons why officers failed to act during a use of force incident. This workshop identifies an array of reasons why officers do not respond to use of force incidents. Discussions will be based upon use of force investigation, cognitive interviewing, non-disciplinary retraining, adaptive thinking under stress and quantifiable measurements.
The Path to Reasonability; Outcomes Versus Process – Chief Liam Duggan, Calibre Press
Systems Thinking 2.0; Context is Critical in Force Events – Chief Liam Duggan, Calibre Press
Kenneth Lott – TBD
corrections track
Our Duty to Protect Inmates from Us! – Donald Leach Ph.D.
Who polices the police, especially right there in the moment when force is being used? Is force being used appropriately? Is there an appropriate rationale for using force? De-escalation and the duty to intervene are huge in the minds of the media/public. But do we bring this scrutiny on ourselves by our own misbehavior? Let’s talk about this!
Navigating though Corrections in the 21st Century – Primary Captain Joseph Celetti – Hampden County Sheriff’s Office, MA
The focus of this class will provide an overview on how correctional and police reforms have changed the way we operate in corrections today. These changes and operational overhauls have impacted both our staff and the inmate population we serve. Some key topics of discussion are the “seasoned” officer vs. the “new” officer, bridging the generational gap in a post COVID atmosphere, training in the 2020’s, and how reforms have changed the inmate we have today.
Use of Force – Are we seeing it clearly? – Primary Captain Joseph Celetti – Hampden County Sheriff’s Office, MA
The focus of this class will provide an overview on how we view a use of force in the 2020’s with an emphasis on the officer’s perception. These officer’s perceptions drive our decision-making process while focusing on the facts and totality of circumstances at hand. Some key topics of discussion are “Use of Force and today’s Optics”, “Perception and the Use of Force” and “Use of Force and Trauma”.
Use of Force Investigations – Captain (Ret.) Brian Zawilinski – Connecticut Department of Correction – TBD
Use of Force in Corrections: Legal Update – Attorney Carrie Hill, National Sheriffs’ Association
Now more than ever, the discussion surrounding the use of force is critical for all commanders and staff. This seminar will discuss the legal developments in the use of force including an extensive review of the Kingsley case. Discussions will include how the public’s perception of the use of force has changed over the years with an emphasis on legal based report writing, the duty to intervene and de-escalation efforts. The impact of video will also be a focal point as well as the importance of consistency in training throughout the entire agency.
Duty to Intervene: Where to from Here? – Attorney Carrie Hill, National Sheriffs’ Association
The Duty to intervene involves the obligation of deputies and officers to intervene when force is inappropriately applied or no longer required. Join Carrie Hill as she shares with you the standard for use of force and the theory of bystander liability in the correctional setting. Understanding the law and having legal based policies and procedures can protect you, your colleagues and those persons under your care.
Civil Liability Avoiding a Pattern or Practice Finding – Attorney Carrie Hill, National Sheriffs’ Association
The Duty to intervene involves the obligation of deputies and officers to intervene when force is inappropriately applied or no longer required. Join Carrie Hill as she shares with you the standard for use of force and the theory of bystander liability in the correctional setting. Understanding the law and having legal based policies and procedures can protect you, your colleagues and those persons under your care.
Applying Kingsley v. Hendrickson to a UOF Report – Captain (Ret.) Brian Zawilinski – Connecticut Department of Correction
Taking the eight principles of this landmark case and implementing them in line staff UOF reports. Report out with the same standards that staff will encounter years later in potential litigation.