The issue of bias is one of universal concern for law enforcement executives. This workshop will demonstrate how bias can effect our unconscious mind and decision making process. Two case studies of officer-involved deadly force encounters will be examined. Participants in this workshop increase their understanding of unconscious bias and learn tactics that can reduce personal and organizational bias.

Police responses to crises involving barricaded suspects, armed suicidal individuals, or persons suffering from mental illnesses pose challenges to communities and law enforcement alike. These incidents inherently have a greater potential for miscommunication and erratic behavior, which can be exacerbated by a traditional law enforcement response. This session provides an overview of a strategic disengagement policy employed by the one of the most active SWAT teams in the United States. The discussion will cover the basis for the policy, case examples of its absence and use, and tips for best practices. This session will enable agencies to broaden their de-escalation options in situations when there is no imminent threat to the public.

Based on data collected from the Assessing Police Use of Force Policy and Outcomes project, one of the largest and most comprehensive studies on police use of force to date, this presentation details the varying types of use of force policies in operation throughout the U.S. and shows the extent to which different types of policies provide more beneficial (and detrimental) outcomes to police practitioners in relation to force usage, officer and suspect injuries, citizen complaints, and line-level officer views of policy guidance. A snapshot of key findings will provide police executives and trainers with valuable evidenced-based data on the strengths and drawbacks of varying types of use of force policies.

In March of 2016, a police officer with the Winslow, Arizona Police Department was involved in an officer involved shooting, resulting in the death of a Native American woman who had charged the officer with a pair of scissors. The events of this tragic incident, which were captured on video by a body-worn camera, made international news. This shooting strained the relationship between many in community, specifically the Native American community, and the police department. This presentation will focus on the events that led up to the shooting, as well as what actions the department took immediately following the incident,  what lessons were learned as a result, and what changes have been implemented as a result.

Smaller Agency Track session recording made possible by Engility.