McDONOUGH – The Henry County Police Department has been awarded a $30,000 grant for the use of force and de-escalation class.
Thirty officers will participate in a five-day class providing instruction on Level 2 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu defensive tactics taught by Gracie University instructors. On completion of the course the officers will be certified instructors.
Gracie Survival Tactics is a defensive strategy system based on Gracie Jiu-Jitsu that is designed to help officers “pretend humanly against larger and stronger opponents”. According to Gracie University, the tactics taught are leverage-based techniques that make officers and arrestees less likely to get hurt.
The class, the HCPD said, “will teach defensive tactics in a simple, effective system using hands-on techniques to reduce the intensity of the encounter, achieve voluntary compliance and reduce the need for high levels of force.”
HCPD officials said they are “committed to enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement officers to safely, respectfully and effectively serve our community.”
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office has also been awarded a $152,000 grant to purchase training equipment to provide customized scenario-based virtual reality training to duties addressing the use of force and de-escalation procedures.
The scenarios, according to the HCSO, cover a wide range of calls to service, common interactions law enforcement officers may encounter and community engagements that emphasize critical thinking skills.
Department officials said, “By providing more than ‘shoot/don’t shoot’ situations, de-escalation skills will be strengthened.”
Both grants were provided by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council’s Fiscal Year 2022 Law Enforcement Grants Program.
The CJCC, created by the Georgia General Assembly in 1981, supports innovative programs and services to improve criminal justice in the state and empower victims.
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