Heart rates are frequently used to measure stress levels in actual and simulated police operations.1 Understanding that increased heart rates can result from elevated stress, the question has long been whether elevated heart rates mean that decision-making and performance will suffer. By now, regular readers of Force Science News know the answer to this question....Read More
“Common sense dictates that in situations where a law enforcement officer has a suspect in their rifle sight, the officer could pull the trigger before any suspect could move a gun toward the officer or another, aim and fire.”1 Pulled from a recent legal filing, the above quote is probably a fair characterization of “common...Read More
At Force Science, we periodically hear that perception and reaction time might apply to drivers, athletes, and pilots, but it does not apply to highly trained police officers when facing lethal threats. The theory, as I understand it, is that police officers have undergone specialized training that allows them to intensely focus on an armed...Read More
In 2013, Force Science published the “Traffic Stop Study,” in which researchers assessed the relative safety of driver-side and passenger-side approaches by officers. During the research, the officers’ reactions were observed in response to an unexpected, simulated firearm assault. Researchers were able to measure the amount of time officers from various positions alongside the car...Read More
On March 30, 2023, Dr. Bill Lewinski was inducted into the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame, where he was honored with the Lifetime Law Enforcement Trainer Award. Generations of police trainers, investigators, and attorneys have relied on the work of Dr. Lewinski to develop training, conduct sophisticated investigations, and achieve honest accountability. With...Read More
How fast can someone point, shoot, and turn to run? In 2000, Force Science began to answer these questions when they published a summary of their research into the speed at which people can shoot and turn from various positions.1 This legacy Force Science research continues to provide some of the most influential human performance...Read More
This article was originally published in The ILEETA Journal | 2022 Winter Edition Volume 12 Edition 4 and is reprinted with permission. For membership information, visit www.ileeta.org/info-join/ In police use-of-force cases, understanding human factors allows us to identify the psychological, physiological, and environmental conditions that can influence decision-making, performance, and even memory. The goal is to...Read More
In 2000, Force Science published Why is the Subject Shot in the Back?, a research summary detailing the speed at which people can shoot, turn, and move from various positions.1 For over 20 years, this Force Science research informed our understanding of deadly force encounters and that of police, communities, and courts worldwide. Advances in...Read More
Editor’s Note: The full study is available here – Safety of Vascular Neck Restraint Applied by Law Enforcement Officers In 2021 federal politicians concluded that both chokeholds and carotid restraints – also known as vascular neck restraints (VNR) — were inherently dangerous and had “too often led to tragedy.” With this pronouncement, federal law enforcement...Read More
Research: Visual Focus – What, Where, When, and How? Research has found that attentional control, including recognizing and visually focusing on relevant information, is a key to successful athletic performance in complex and dynamic competitions. Similarly, research has found that attentional control can positively influence police officers’ emotional regulation and improve tactical decision-making. Without an...Read More
