97% of Police Stops: No Force Used

A groundbreaking study has found that de-escalation is a learnable police skill that can reduce force and keep communities safer. The three-year research collaboration between Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice and the Leon County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) analyzed over 1,000 incident recordings and found that roughly 97% of official citizen encounters did not require force.

The study was led by Capt. James Pittman and Keller Sheppard, an assistant professor in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. It was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Researchers used 10 trained coders to analyze unredacted body-worn camera footage, providing a comprehensive look at police interactions with citizens.

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil launched the study to find a reliable way to measure peaceful resolutions in the field. The study resulted in a report titled 'Dissecting De-escalation: A Collaborative Research Initiative'. De-escalation was defined as any action, statement or consideration by an officer that decreases the likelihood or severity of force.

## What it means The findings of the study are significant, as they demonstrate that de-escalation is not just a natural personality trait, but a measurable and teachable skill. This means that police officers can be trained to use de-escalation techniques, reducing the likelihood of force being used in interactions with citizens. The study's results have important implications for police training and community safety.

The study's lead researchers believe that the partnership between Florida State University and the Leon County Sheriff's Office provides a national model for how research and operational policing can work together to protect both officers and the public. The findings of the study are expected to inform police training and policy, with the goal of reducing force and improving community safety.

## Why it matters The study's findings are particularly important in the context of ongoing debates about police use of force and community safety. By providing evidence that de-escalation is a learnable skill, the study suggests that police departments can take steps to reduce the likelihood of force being used in interactions with citizens. This has the potential to improve community trust and safety, and to reduce the risk of violent confrontations between police and citizens.