Law Enforcement Classes
The Science, Medical Implications, and the Liability Issues Impacting The Use of Force (8 hours)
June 26, 2012
8:00-5:00 p.m.
University Center Cypress Room
Instructor: Dr. Darrell Ross
For the last 25 years, claims of excessive force have been identified as one most common topic areas cited in Section 1983 litigation. The primary purpose of this course is to provide law enforcement officers and supervisors with the latest information on one of the most critical tasks they face. This course addresses use of force litigation standards established by the United States Supreme Court and applied by the lower courts. Case law analysis on lethal force, less-lethal weaponry and devices, use of restraints and empty-hand control techniques, response to the mentally ill, and sudden deaths in custody will be presented. Use of force medical research on less-lethal devices and literature will also be addressed. Administrators, instructors, investigators, and line officers will benefit from this course and recommendations for policy, training, field implementation, force documentation, and court testimony are presented.
- Objectives of the course include:
- Analyzing the dynamics of use of force Incidents
- Reviewing United States Supreme Court Decisions
- Describing how the courts apply the Graham v. Connor decision
- Examining the current trends of §1983 use of force litigation and court application
- Examining case law and lethal force
- Examining case law and the use of intermediate tools/weapons, including Conducted Energy Devices, Pepper Spray, other tools, and empty-hand control techniques
- Examining case law and the use of restraints
- Examining the medical issues and the science of use of force equipment
- Examining case law and responding to the mentally ill
- Examining case law and emergency response teams
- Assessing field implications, application, and documenting the use of force
- Describing policy & training implications
- Preparing for court testimony
The Science, Law, and Protocols for Investigating Sudden In-Custody Deaths Associated With Excited Delirium, Positional Asphyxia, Pepper Spray, and Tasers (8 hours)
July 31, 2012
8:00-5:00 p.m.
TBA
Instructor: Dr. Darrell Ross
Annually a small number of individuals suddenly die after a physical force altercation with police, correctional, or mental health personnel. The person exhibits bizarre, violent, and combative behaviors frequently related to chemical impairment, symptoms of mental impairment or both. A central problem in these deaths is identifying the exact cause of death. As a result numerous questions emerge which will be directed at the restraining officers, their department, and medico-legal investigators. Because these incidents will generate civil and/or criminal charges against the restraining personnel, this discussion identifies protocols for conducting investigations in sudden in-custody deaths. The course addresses key investigation components which every investigator should consider when tasked with performing this assignment. The course integrates the law, science, medical research, and the human factors which emerge from these incidents. The course will assist the investigator in ensuring proper protocols are followed.
Course objectives include:
- Describe the nature and etiology of sudden deaths in custody
- Excited delirium
- Restraint/Positional asphyxia
- Restraint stress
- Mental illness & acute exhaustive mania
- Nueroleptic-malignant syndrome
- Substance abuse
- Anti-psychotic medications
- Capture myopthy
- Cardiovascular disease
- Describe the common patterns of sudden in-custody deaths
- Describe the medico-legal issues surrounding sudden in custody deaths
- Examining the role of less-lethal force equipment associated with these deaths
- Empty-hand control techniques & neck restraints
- Less-lethal force equipment (pepper spray, conducted energy devices, batons)
- Restraint equipment
- Assessing legal standards relevant to these investigations
- Describe the components of the investigations and on-scene investigation factors
- Assess the responsibility of investigators and examining use of force investigations
- Describe the components and maintenance of the investigator’s file.
- Describe critical factors of the decedent’s history.
- Examining the science and research associated with sudden in-custody deaths
- Analyzing the guidelines for performing a sudden in-custody death
- Describing the components of the investigator’s report
- Assessing case studies and incident videos
- Describing pertinent agency policy and procedures
- Describe the intervention and monitoring procedures of the restraining personnel.
- Describe the on-scene emergency medical personnel’s response.
- Describe the methods of transporting the decedent.
- Describe the nature of hospital care provided.
- Describe the critical components of a thorough autopsy and laboratory testing
- Assessing policy issues
- Preparing for court
The Law, Science, and Human Factors Impacting Officer Involved Shooting Investigations (8 hours)
June 26, 2012
8:00-5:00 p.m.
University Center Rose Room
Instructor: Dr. Darrell Ross
Incidents which require police officers to use varying levels of force spotlight their actions more than any other public entity conduct. Whether responding to protestors in civil disturbances or engaging in major force incidents where an individual has sustained a serious injury or death, internal investigators and police administrators must be aware of the competing interests that emerge from these high profile investigatory situations. This course specifically addresses the pertinent interests, agency and public issues, and civil liability concerns in initiating, performing, and completing investigations which stem from use of force incidents. Administrative, policy, individual investigator, and training concerns are presented. Emphasis is placed on case law analysis, development of force model investigatory protocol, interviewing, and applying the model protocol in the field.
Course objectives include:
- Describe/define officer misconduct
- Describing case law surrounding use of force and “objective reasonableness” standard
- Analyzing civil liability case examples and “Garrity” requirements
- Describing issues relevant to use of force report review
- Describing the relevant policy issues for investigation process
- Describing the citizen complaint process
- Describing IA investigatory responsibilities
- Performing an use of force analysis
- Examining the Court’s standard in Graham & Scott decisions
- Investigating and determining “objective reasonableness” responses
- Assessing subject threat levels
- Assessing officer perception and the science of the brain
- Examining perceptional distortions, stress, and its impact on field performance and the investigation & how the court applies the science to fact pattern cases
- Problems associated with investigating officer-involved shootings
- Factors pertinent to Major force investigations
- Protocols for performing the investigation
- Describing investigation preparation protocols
- Preparing for and conducting interviews
- Describing the process for evidence control and utilization
- Describing the strategies necessary for documentation
- Describing the issues surrounding critical incidents and “critical incident amnesia”
- Describing special considerations
If you have any questions, please call our office at 259-5105, or email Tim Yorkey .