An officer’s job termination, based largely on discrepancies between his description of a physical encounter and what a Taser camera recorded, has been reversed by a California judge, thanks to the efforts of an attorney and an expert witness with Force Science credentials. Ofcr. Santino “Sonny” Lopez of the Grover Beach (CA) PD, the president...Read More
Skepticism often arises when officers shoot at vehicles they claim were about to run them over. Questions range from “Why didn’t the cop just jump out of the way?” to “How come his estimate of the car’s speed is so much higher than that of other witnesses at the scene?” The answers may lie with...Read More
LEOs use deadly force far less often than they’re legally justified in doing, in contrast to a media-fueled public impression that excessive force by America’s cops is “general and widespread,” according to a recent survey of police/citizen encounters. While officers kill an average of about 385 subjects a year, this toll, in fact, reflects significant...Read More
A research team led by Force Science faculty member Dr. Christine Hall has brought to light the first reliable statistics in another shadowy and controversial area: the frequency of forceful contact between police and subjects displaying signs of excited delirium syndrome (ExDS). With five associates, Hall, an emergency medicine specialist and ExDS authority based in...Read More
You may have heard of the bill passed recently by the Indiana General Assembly that gives citizens the right to physically resist—even with deadly force—any LEO they “reasonably believe” is unlawfully entering their dwelling or is about to cause them injury. At this writing, the legislation awaits the signature of Gov. Mitch Daniels to become...Read More
The scenario is one that’s often in the headlines and ultimately in the courts: A distraught and frightened family calls for help in controlling a mentally disturbed or suicidal relative. When cops respond, the confrontation escalates and the subject ends up injured or dead from police use of force. The family claims the force was...Read More
Part 2 of a 2-part series In a previous Force Science News, Dr. Ed Geiselman, an internationally recognized authority on interviewing techniques, offered 5 critical reminders for investigators on how to elicit accurate and comprehensive statements from involved officers and eyewitnesses in OISs and other use-of-force cases. But what it you’re an involved officer being...Read More
Part 1 of a 2-part series As an expert in interviewing skills, Dr. Ed Geiselman has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to officers being questioned by investigators after use-of-force events. Recently he was asked to review transcripts and audio recordings of interviews in cases where LEOs’ jobs were on...Read More
A resounding clash between researchers has erupted over the question of whether emergency room doctors should report suspected cases of excessive force by LEOs. On one hand are American researchers—MDs and PhDs—who argue that in the interest of “violence prevention” ER physicians should notify Internal Affairs investigators whenever they see a patient whose injuries may...Read More
You are confronting an armed suspect, no cover available. He faces you, with his gun at his side, pointed at the ground. Your gun is aimed at him and you’re ready to shoot. He ignores your commands to drop his weapon. Are you justified in pulling the trigger before he makes any move to point...Read More
