Del. police agencies train to reduce force in stressful encounters

Tuesday, a de-escalation training for police officers got  underway in Delaware. Several local agencies joined looking to roll out new tactics for modern times.

Officials in charge of the agencies are rolling out new strategies in hopes of responding better.

"De-escalation techniques are an option to the use of force. This training hopes to bring that down so that the force doesn't get into the higher levels," says William Bryson, the Chairman of the Delaware Police Chief Council.

Recent police related deaths like Philando Castile and Eric Garner have put the actions of the men and women in blue under the microscope causing police tactics to be questioned.

"There is a tremendous amount of pressure for the police to incorporate these de-escalation strategies," says Chief Kenneth McLaughlin from the Ocean Police Department.

Chief McLaughlin has been working with other departments to bring this training to agencies throughout Delaware.During this course officers learn how to evaluate subjects before making contact, as well as how to safely resolve encounters with those who are mentally ill or suicidal. The instructors use everyday scenarios to get officers to apply these strategies in the hopes of reducing the need of force by police during stressful encounters.

"It could be something as simple as a car stop, you make a traffic enforcement stop and the person is argumentative or disrespectful to the police officer, and doesn't think they did anything wrong," says Dr. Ron Martinelli, a De-Escalation Course Instructor.

Chief McLaughlin says de-escalation techniques do not always work in all scenarios, for example   in situations where immediate action is needed. However, police agencies are looking to offer this training to more of their officers.

Wednesday officer will take an practical performance test and written exam in order to teach de-escalation trainings to their agencies.