De-Escalation: Principals and Practi ce

De-Escalation Principles and Practice Training

Course Overview:

This two-day seminar, delivered in cooperation with the Center for Advanced Policing at the University of New Haven, focuses on evidence-based strategies for reducing unnecessary or avoidable use of force in police operations. The course addresses a critical challenge in modern policing: maintaining community trust and public cooperation while ensuring officer safety and effectiveness. Instruction is provided by trainers certified through the Center for Advanced Policing.

Schedule & Location:

Monday, October 5, 2026 through Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Connecticut Police Academy, 285 Preston Avenue, Meriden, CT 06450.

Course Content:

The curriculum employs a proprietary de-escalation methodology incorporating DISC Esoterica®, with training offered both to individual officers and to train-the-trainers. Participants explore situational awareness, body language interpretation, threat assessment techniques, and appropriate positioning based on active and passive threat levels. The program integrates verbal judo and procedural justice principles alongside trauma-informed crisis intervention practices. Rapid personality and threat assessment tools are embedded throughout. As the sole IADLEST Level Three certified de-escalation provider in the country, the National De-Escalation Training Center and its regional centers deliver Department of Justice-approved instruction. The training includes hands-on scenario-based learning in which participants actively engage with realistic situations.

Topics Covered:

• The subject and the threat environment
• De-escalation fundamentals using procedural justice as a foundation
• Trauma informed policing and crisis intervention
• Integrating personality assessment with de-escalation
• Body language and rapid personality identification
• Active and passive threat stages and safe distancing

Enrollment & Requirements:

Class size is limited to twenty (20) attendees. Registration must be completed through the Acadis portal by Monday, September 14, 2026. For questions, contact the Field Services Training Division at 203-427-2625. The uniform dress code specified in POST General Notice 23-02 is required for all participants. Lunch is available for purchase at nearby restaurants.

Cost:

This course is offered at no tuition cost to Connecticut law enforcement agencies and personnel.