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Course detail: Force Encounters: Real World Review
This course provides law enforcement professionals with a practical framework for reviewing and evaluating use-of-force incidents involving officers. Emphasis is placed on the application of Kansas statutes, the principle of objective reasonableness established in Graham v. Connor, and the relationship among agency policy, defensive tactics training, and officer decision-making.
Participants will examine how defensive tactics principles, officer perception, physiological stress responses, and environmental conditions influence use-of-force encounters. The course also explores the development and refinement of agency policies and training programs that align with state law and operational realities.
Through discussion and practical application, attendees will evaluate use-of-force incidents using structured review concepts that consider legal standards, tactical decision-making, human performance, and officer safety. The training reinforces the importance of legally defensible, reasonable, and professionally sound responses during physical confrontations.
Core Competency
Participants will apply legal standards, defensive tactics principles, and human performance concepts to evaluate law enforcement use-of-force incidents and support defensible policy, training, and supervisory practices.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Evaluate law enforcement use of force incidents using the principle of objective reasonableness established in Graham v. Connor.
- Apply Kansas statutes and agency policy considerations when reviewing officer use of force actions.
- Identify factors that influence use-of-force decisions, including officer perception, suspect behavior, environmental conditions, and physiological stress responses.
- Recognize pre-assault indicators, aggressive behaviors, and combative mindset concepts associated with physical confrontations.
- Apply defensive tactics principles that support safe, reasonable, and legally defensible responses.
- Analyze use of force incidents using a structured review process that incorporates legal, tactical, and training considerations.
- Discuss strategies for aligning defensive tactics training with agency policy and state law.
- Lecture
- Group discussion
- Practical exercises
- Defensive tactics instructors
- Frontline supervisors
- Law enforcement administrators
- 100% attendance and participation
Notice of Availability of the KLETC Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: The University of Kansas has determined that the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) main campus in Hutchinson and its regional sites in Dodge City, Hays, and Parsons are separate campuses. This determination was made in consultation with the Department of Education. The report is available online at: https://civilrights.ku.edu/clery. The report contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; the procedures the institution will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred On-Campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Non-Campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the institution or a recognized student organization; and on Public Property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the report will be provided upon request. If you would like to receive a paper copy, you can request that a copy be mailed to you by calling 785-864-6414 or emailing civilrights@ku.edu or arrange for pick-up at a KLETC location.
