Training is presided over by consultants from Effective Fitness Combatives, or EFC, who incorporate jiu jitsu-based defensive tactics and wrestling/grappling style subject compliance into its lessons.
“I would say the biggest gap in law enforcement right now is we don’t train consistently.”
Jay Wadsworth is director and cofounder of EFC. He says GRPD has been training these de-escalation techniques for over two years now.
“So, implementing training consistently is the key, and departments are starting to get on board with it, administration is starting to see it, and it gives us a lot more options.”
This session is an intensive 8-hours-a-day, 4 days-a-week, scenario-based program training officers in a simulated environment. At the end of the session, these officers will become certified trainers themselves to increase GRPD’s in-house training capacity.
“When it comes to a physical arrest, roughly about 8-10% of the time, that becomes a use-of-force incident.”
Captain Dave Siver with GRPD says this training has already led to a reduction in use-of-force incidents.
“In 2023, I compiled the year-long stats and we avoided four officer-involved shootings based upon the EFC techniques that these officers are trained on, so immediately we’re seeing a positive impact for the community.”
Captain Siver says the drive to provide better public safety to the community at large will propel GRPD into more advanced training in the future.
