Fundamentals of Realistic De-Escalation

CENTRAL ILLINOIS POLICE TRAINING CENTER

Brian Fengel, Director

Phone: (309) 690-7355
Fax: (309) 690-7359
Heather Grove: hgrove@icc.edu

Jean Swan: jswan@icc.edu

Robert Pyszka: rp717@icc.edu

Instructor: Forced Science

May 28, 2025

8am – 5pm

Class will meet at: CIPTC, ICC Peoria Campus, 5407 N. University, Poplar P101, Peoria

Enrollment Deadline: May 21, 2025

Course Size: Minimum – 20 Maximum – 64

Course Description and Lesson Purpose:

Law enforcement agencies have come under intense pressure in recent years to prioritize their efforts at “de-escalation.” We will discuss the often-challenging expectations of law enforcement professionals to gain compliance without using physical force and how oftentimes, this may not be realistic or safe. The legitimate goal of de-escalation tactics is to resolve problems with minimal harm. This distinction is critical.

The course will present law enforcement concepts and methods to support de-escalation efforts. Attendees will be provided with knowledge to apply core skills of incident stabilization, tactics and decision-making and verbal and non-verbal skills to establish contact, build rapport and create influence with difficult subjects.

Learning and Training Objectives:

Students will learn a wide variety of skills during this course including:

At the end of this training, the participant will be able to:

Articulate what ‘de-escalation’ actually means, what the objectives of de-escalation are, and in what situations de-escalation can and cannot be considered
Discuss the tactical principles of de-escalation, risk assessment and decision-making
Quickly evaluate an interaction to determine whether de-escalation efforts are reasonable to consider, tactically practical, and likely to be successful
Apply critical Force Science® concepts such as the “Response-ability Zone” and the “7 T’s De- escalation Evaluation Model” to evaluate tactics that are needed or likely to be successful in supporting a de-escalation process
Enhance their ability to make a connection, establish rapport and apply effective principles of persuasion with difficult subjects, including mentally ill subjects, through the application of the ‘Behavioral Influence Stairway Model’
Learn and apply the ‘Thought/Emotion/Behavior’ (TEB) Matrix to quickly recognize whether a subject is in ‘conflict’, ‘crisis’ or has ‘contaminated’ thinking and therefore which strategies of persuasion are likely to be the most effective
Employ specialized questions specifically designed to cognitively engage individuals in crisis and increase the likelihood of resolution that either avoids force or minimizes the amount necessary to obtain control
Better ensure that officers’ approach and control strategies maximize their response options while minimizing the potential for unnecessary emotional and/or physical escalation
Balance the desirability of trying to resolve a conflict peacefully with the need to maintain officer and public safety
Apply principles of officer self-regulation and emotional control in order to maintain rational

thinking processes

Help community members and the media better understand what realistic de-escalation entails and the challenges that subjects may present that can inhibit, if not prohibit, an officer’s ability to safely de-escalate.

Mobile In-Service Training Team#7 Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board

MTU 7 request for certification of this course has been approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board

Meets the following mandatory training criteria: De-Escalation 8 hours

Event