Training Courses

De-Escalation for Safer Outcomes

Date & Time:
  • February 23, 2027
Location:
285 Preston Avenue, Meriden, CT 06450

De-Escalation for Safer Outcomes: Practical Strategies for Law Enforcement

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, through its Police Officer Standards and Training Council's Field Services Training Division, is partnering with the Eastern Region De-escalation Training Center at the University of New Haven to deliver a comprehensive one-day training seminar. Experienced instructors from the Eastern Region De-escalation Training Center will lead this program, which is scheduled for Tuesday, February 23, 2027, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. at the Connecticut Police Academy, located at 285 Preston Avenue, Meriden, Connecticut 06450.

This course fulfills the requirements of the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act (LEDTA) and equips law enforcement professionals with practical, evidence-based techniques to manage conflict and crisis situations safely and effectively. Through interactive instruction, participants will gain proficiency in effective communication, de-escalation methodologies, crisis intervention, critical decision-making under pressure, trauma-informed approaches, community resource coordination, and personal resilience strategies. The training emphasizes reducing use-of-force incidents, enhancing officer and community safety, and building stronger community relationships.

Core Training Objectives:

  • Evidence-Based De-Escalation Strategies – Participants learn a standardized, research-driven methodology for de-escalation that improves outcomes for both law enforcement officers and community members.
  • Critical Decision-Making Under Pressure – The program strengthens assessment and decision-making capabilities by integrating Critical Decision-Making (CDM) frameworks, ICAT-informed principles, and ethical leadership approaches.
  • Effective Crisis Recognition and Response – Attendees develop competency in recognizing and appropriately responding to individuals experiencing mental health crises, substance use issues, trauma, developmental disabilities, and medical emergencies.
  • Advanced Tactical Communication Skills – Training covers active listening, empathy development, rapport-building techniques, conflict resolution, verbal and non-verbal communication strategies, and behavioral influence methods.
  • Officer Wellness & Collaborative Public Safety – The course strengthens officer resilience, emotional regulation, and stress management while teaching effective collaboration with mental health professionals and community-based resources to support immediate crisis response and sustainable long-term solutions.

Enrollment is capped at twenty (20) attendees. Interested officers must submit a registration form through the Acadis portal no later than Tuesday, February 2, 2027. For additional information, contact the Field Services Training Division at post.fieldservices@ct.gov.

There is no tuition cost for this course. Participants may purchase lunch at nearby restaurants. The standard uniform dress code for POST in-service training as specified in General Notice 23-02 will be enforced, and training supervisors are asked to communicate this requirement to their assigned personnel.

Training Credit Hours

  • Area 312 De-Escalation (6 hours)