Conflict Management Training and Nonlethal Weapon Use: Why Law Enforcement Officers Misuse Force, How Officers Make Decisions Under Stress, Warrior Versus Guardian Mentality in Training

This report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. This thesis examines multiple theories for why law enforcement officers misuse force. It explores decision-making theory that has been used to describe how officers make rapid decisions under stress. Biases can affect an officer's ability or propensity to use force. Recognition Primed Decision addresses how over-emphasis on using force during training can prime officers to rely on force in the streets. Such other factors as the warrior mentality (versus the guardian mentality) that are instilled in recruits also may affect an officer's readiness to use force; officers also are taught that their lives are a priority over others. And finally, the law enforcement community has a sense of immunity from being held legally responsible, reinforced by courts' inability to prosecute officers or hold them liable. Practices and policies are examined in agencies that exacerbate or mitigate these issues. Over-emphasis on using force during training and specific material meant to foster the warrior mentality are identified as problems plaguing some departments. De-escalation training and training that mitigates officer bias are identified as important practices to implement. This thesis includes several recommendations that leaders should examine to minimize officer misuse of force.

This compilation includes a reproduction of the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

I. Introduction * A. Major Research Question * B. Significance of the Research * C. Literature Review * 1. Training and/or Weapon-Use is at the Appropriate Level * 2. Training is Insufficient or Misplaced * D. Research Design * E. Thesis Overview * II. Background on Use of Force and Law Enforcement Training * A. Explanation of Use of Force and Whether It Is Misused * 1. What is Use of Force? * 2. Justifiable Use of Force Explained * 3. Data on Misuse of Force * B. Law Enforcement Training Practices * C. Inconsistent Training Requirements * D. Conclusion * III. Potential Causes for Misuse * A. Recognition Prime Decision Theory * B. Priority Mentality (Officer Safety First) * C. Warrior Mentality vs. Guardian Mentality * D. Discriminatory Abuse of Power/Bias * E. Perceived Legal Immunity * F. Conclusion * IV. Law Enforcement Training And Policy And Its Effect On Use Of Force * A. Training That Exacerbates Misuse Of Force * 1. Over-Emphasis of Training on Using Force * 2. Training that Inappropriately Instills Warrior Mindset * 3. Law Enforcement Policy Barriers * B. Policies and Practices That Effectively Address Misuse of Force * 1. Conflict Management/De-escalation Training * 2. Bias Mitigation Training * 3. The Use-of-Force Continuum Policy * C. Conclusion * V. Conclusion and Recommendations * A. Recommendations * B. Future Research * C. Conclusion

All law enforcement officers understand the legal requirements for when use of force is allowed, but how much training and of what quality are they receiving to maximize that goal of keeping everyone safe? The community of policing in the United States is full of antiquated policies and complex bureaucracies causing inefficiencies in training requirements. Organizations like the Police Executive Research Forum recognize that many departments' efforts are misguided and have put forth policy recommendations that go above and beyond the current legal requirements.2 No amount of new equipment, grandiose police strategies, or legal restrictions on officers will eliminate misuse of force if training efforts are not comprehensive and do not address root causes of excessive force.