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  • De-escalation 200122-DMB-POST-002
     January 22, 2020
     8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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Background

It is now generally understood that police officers are placed in remarkably difficult situations that are often life-threatening.  Even the United States Supreme Court has explained that police contacts can be tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving.  It is no surprise that officers often struggle to adjust from an extremely high-stress, fight or flight encounters, back into the mild-mannered neighborhood police officer.

We understand that each day our first responders experience stressors that trigger a series of physiological changes known as fight or flight. This can include increased heart rate, muscle tone, blood pressure, decrease of fine motor skills, auditory exclusion, and tunnel vision. They remain is this state until the parasympathetic system returns body and mind to a resting state.  Learning how to control this response allows for improved decision-making and rational thoughts that consider longer term consequences extending beyond the next few moments.

In an effort to address the prevalence of officer involved shootings and excessive force incidents, most police departments have imposed policy stating officers shall attempt to de-escalate situations when possible.  The problem is that departments are providing little to no training on de-escalation.  The nature of the job, from responding to life threatening situations to trivial report calls, is a rollercoaster ride for officers.  During high stress calls, officers’ nervous systems are often unknowingly and unwillingly, automatically going into the sympathetic state (fight or flight).  When operating in “fight or flight”, the officers are at a high risk of over reacting with excessive force and, in worse case scenarios, with unnecessary deadly force. Untrained officers are operating from a primal instinct to survive, not knowing how to respond using the frontal lobe of the brain to make split second decisions.  Officers are given no tools on how to come down from this sympathetic state and are sent right to the next call for service, now even more likely to over react.

Officers are given little to no communication skills training on how to deal with difficult people. When confronted with uncooperative, provoking and vicious verbal attacks officers are left to their own devices on how to deal with this.  Often officers are given the instruction to just “suck it up!” which again only further perpetuates the state of “fight or flight” and/or frustration. By the end of their shift Officers may feel on edge or often they are feeling lethargic, completely drained, having no capacity to show any sympathy to witnesses and victims, let alone be in a good mindset to respond to a deadly force situation.


Executive Summary

De-escalation and Mindful Breathing was specifically created to assist first responders in managing stress before, during, and after stressful encounters to ensure enhanced decision-making during a crisis and the ability to rapidly return from the fight or flight response.  The immediate benefits are apparent, but this course also equips students with the ability to improve long-term health.

The training will teach officers how to recognize when they are in a state of “fight or flight” and how to control themselves in any given situation.  Once in control, they are then and only then in a position to influence the actions of others.  They will learn how to read suspects’ body language and how to respond instead of reacting.  Officers will learn simple and effective verbal communication skills that will give them confidence in dealing with difficult people.  They will learn how to breath properly during a physical altercation in a way that will empower them and keep them out of “fight or flight”.  They will learn how to attain a mindset of hyper awareness that is crucial during life and death situations.  Nearly as important, officers will learn how to relax after an intense incident bringing them back into a parasympathetic state (rest and digest).  This will prolong their longevity on and off duty.

After completion of the course, officers will have access to a higher level of awareness, both self-awareness and that of the people they come in contact with.  Officers will be able to identify bodily functions of others, such as specific breathing patterns, which can give them insight to whether the person is in a calm cooperative state or in “fight or flight”.  This, coupled with their heightened self-awareness of their own nervous system, will enable them to make accurate split-second choices, having a positive influence on the prevalence of officer involved shootings and/or excessive force incidents.

Students who complete this 8-hour course will be able to:

  • Apply these techniques during a tactical event such as an active shooter
  • Apply breathing techniques to help de-escalate a violent encounter
  • Explain how to manage emotions before, during, and after a crisis
  • Describe how to affect their heart rate and nervous system to alleviate stress
  • Apply Breathing techniques to remain calm and focused in high stress situations
  • Read a suspect’s breathing pattern as cues to mindset
  • Use breathing techniques to increase energy, improve heart health, decrease pain, relax, and sleep better

Note: It is recommended that students wear workout clothing to participate in the practical exercises.


Course Information

Course Length: 1 day (8 hours)
Certification: California POST & Board of State and Community Corrections (STC)
Cost/Tuition: Free – (Grant funded for POST certified personnel only)
Max Class Size: 24 Students
Prerequisites: None
Recommended For: Line level personnel and supervisors


About the Course Designer & Instructor

Recognized as an expert in de-escalation strategies, Mr. Milosevich is a retired Santa Monica Police Officer, POST instructor, and Professor at Santa Monica College. Erik has taught law enforcement courses in: De-escalation (Lava Mae staff) Krav Maga, Gracie Jujitsu, Taser, Nunchaku, and Communications with Difficult People. Erik’s police experience includes Patrol, Field Training Officer, Riffle Team, Police Activities League, Narcotics, SWAT, and Neighborhood Resource Officer. [More..]


 

 

Venue:  

Address:
2501 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, California, 92626, United States

Description:

The Fairview Developmental Center is located on 114 acres of state-owned land and has a partially vacant hospital, administrative buildings, and onsite classrooms. Please see the information below and the maps for accessing the classroom. The facility entrance is at the intersection of Harbor Blvd and Fair Drive. Look for parked cars in the third parking lot past Pearl Way.  You will see RTC training signage.

Restaurants near the training location


Contract Hotels:

Ayres Hotel, Fountain Valley
17550 Brookhurst Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 861-5170

King studio suite – $120 +taxes per night.

Our King Studio Suite features One King Bed and a full-size sofa bed to accommodate extra guests. Guestrooms include a micro kitchen with a mini-refrigerator, microwave, and coffee/tea maker. Amenities include a 42″ flat screen TV, iHome clock/alarm, executive desk with ergonomic chair, and sitting area. Our bathrooms feature a tub/shower combination with a separate vanity. Overnight guests enjoy a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast, internet, and parking.

[Click Here to book your room now]

If you book in  person or via the phone, please mention “LARTC”


Sonesta ES Suites
17550 Brookhurst Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 965-8000

Studio king suite – $120 +taxes per night.

This king studio suite provides ample space with one king bed and a full-size sofa bed. The living area features a flat-screen television with premium movie channels and a work desk. The kitchen includes a full-sized refrigerator, stovetop, microwave oven, dishwasher, pots and pans, utensils, plates, and glasses. The hotel provides a complimentary full breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking for one vehicle. Additional amenities include onsite laundry facilities, a fitness center, a heated pool/spa, a basketball court, and a fire pit with a grill and outdoor dining area.

[Click Here to book your room now]

If you book in  person or via the phone, please mention “Rate Code 2THEREGI”


Classroom location

Look for parked cars in the third parking lot past Pearl Way.  You will see RTC training signage.