NCJ Number
164308
Journal
Law Enforcement Trainer Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (September/October 1996) Pages: 15-16
Date Published
1996
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article describes the process used to develop a training program on arrest and control for the Los Angeles Police Department.
Abstract
The effort began in 1989 with a review of all of the use-of- force reports for 1988 (before the Rodney King incident). In many cases the altercations began when an officer grabbed the suspect's arm, and the suspect pulled his arm away, leading to the officer attempting a joint lock, falling, and taking the suspect to the ground, where he/she was handcuffed. The other four most common scenarios were suspects attacking officers by punching, kicking or charging an officer; suspects refusing to assume a searching position; suspects running away from an officer, causing a foot chase; and suspects assuming a fighting or marital arts stance. Based on these findings, a decision was made to revamp departmental arrest and control techniques. A civilian martial arts advisory panel (C-MAAP) was formed. For 4 years, C-MAAP studied every joint lock, take down, and kick that could be imagined and applied them to the five use-of-force patterns identified in the research. C-MAAP then developed several techniques that could be easily learned and used; they consisted of joint locks, pugilistics, and ground fighting. Medical and legal subcommittees were also formed to analyze the new techniques and make suggestions as to how the techniques could be made medically and legally sound. Then the first scientifically and fully documented use-of-force/arrest and control curriculum was developed. This article describes staff and facility selection for the training.