The 2024 Coroner's Inquest pertaining to the officer-involved shooting of Sammy Yatim contain dozens of recommendations for the improvement of policing practices. Many of these recommendations are aimed directly at law enforcement use of force training:
👉 Make trauma-informed de-escalation and peer intervention training a mandatory component of annual requalification training for officers and commit to ongoing development and enhancement of this training. Ensure that the training continues to emphasize the importance of trauma-informed and anti-biased communication, and that officers are responsible for their own actions and have a positive duty to intervene.
👉 Implementing standardized evidence-based training on critical decision-making and trauma-informed de- escalation, to be delivered every twelve (12) months, in addition to annual recertification requirements.
👉 increase annual use of force training to sixteen (16) hours, with a focus on critical decision-making practice and assessment (scenario-based stress modulation training).
👉 Mandate a ‘Train the Trainers’ program for use of force instructors and require recertification and quality assessment no less than once every 3 years.
👉 Conduct annual reviews of the training curriculum to ensure it remains in alignment with the needs of the community. This should include community engagement through feedback from the community to assess the impact of the training.
👉 Continue efforts to make scenario-based training as realistic as possible by relying primarily on real-life scenario training (e.g. using scenarios from police related Coroner's Inquests). Such training should, where possible, employ professional actors and, where not possible, persons unknown to the trained police officers.
👉 Expand use of multiple officer scenario training (involving 3 or more officers) that involve staggered officer arrival on scene and emphasize incident command, role assignment, and communication between officers.
👉 Include radio use and the ongoing or continued receipt and transmission of information via radio in scenario training.
👉 Incorporate evidence based self-regulation techniques and situational awareness into the training of all police recruits and police officers and embed the application of those techniques in all use of force, de- escalation, and peer intervention scenario-based training.
During the 5-day Methods of Instruction (MOI) course, many of these recommendations, as well as several other evidence-informed approaches are covered as we endeavor to continue to help advance public and officer safety. Check out the course in-depth at www.raptorprotection.com
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