Force Science Institute - Destroying Myths & Discovering Cold Facts

Destroying Myths & Discovering Cold Facts
with Force Science Institute

PoliceOne is proud to announce yet another new presence in our fast-growing columnist section! We have forged a strategic alliance with the Force Science Institute, a cutting-edge organization that uses sophisticated time-and-motion measurements to document -- for the first time -- critical hidden truths about the mental and physical dynamic of life-threatening events, particularly officer-involved shooting. By agreement with PoliceOne Board Member Dr. Bill Lewinski - who also serves as the center's executive director - PoliceOne will begin posting the Center's findings and other articles of interest to the study of Force Science in their new section.

Contact Bill Lewinski

Special protocol for ExDS response is valuable liability shield - 04/12/2012 Comments

Will Indiana's self-defense measure mean 'open season' on cops? - 03/29/2012 Comments

Police attorney offers 'best practices' tips to civil rights overseers - 03/15/2012 Comments

AELE analyzes when force against the mentally disturbed is justified - 02/16/2012 Comments

Correction and elaboration on prone positioning study report - 02/16/2012

Is prone positioning really riskier for suspects? - 02/09/2012 Comments

New video combats public myths about police shootings - 12/29/2011 Comments

What mentally ill subjects want cops to know - 12/15/2011 Comments

New checklist being tested to help cops respond to people with mental illness - 12/01/2011 Comments

5 tips for officers in use-of-force interviews - 11/10/2011

Getting closer to understanding post-traumatic stress disorder - 11/03/2011 Comments

Overcoming the 'Achilles heel' of use-of-force investigations - 10/27/2011 Comments

Should ER physicians be required to report suspected cases of police brutality? - 10/06/2011 Comments

Current training may leave officers vulnerable - 07/21/2011 Comments

As police deaths mount, what can you do now to stay safe? - 07/14/2011 Comments

Survivors speak: A different view on police suicide - 07/07/2011 Comments

Calif. Citizens' Academy puts civilians in the OIS hot seat - 06/09/2011 Comments

New reaction-time study addresses what’s ‘reasonable’ in armed-suspect encounters - 05/26/2011 Comments

Police officers impaired and imperiled by exertion and exhaustion - 05/12/2011 Comments

UCLA study on OIS survivors favors skilled investigative interviews - 04/28/2011

Anti-fatigue measures could cut cop deaths 15 percent, researcher claims - 03/24/2011 Comments

Cognitive interviewing linked to 'fair, objective' OIS investigations - 02/17/2011 Comments

New survey exposes 'disturbing' shortcomings in firearms training - 01/20/2011

Report: Significant inconsistencies in spent cartridge-case ejection - 12/30/2010 Comments

Hidden hands more dangerous than imagined - 12/22/2010 Comments

Anger sets the stage for seeing threats where none exist - 12/16/2010 Comments

'Mind traps' that can trick you (and those who judge your actions) - 11/24/2010 Comments

How you can help with a new effort to save cops' lives - 11/04/2010 Comments

New study tests officers' endurance in fights - 09/30/2010 Comments

New findings support delaying interviews after an OIS - 09/16/2010

The fatigue threshold: You're out of gas and the suspect is still out of control — 'a cop's worst nightmare' - 08/05/2010 Comments

Force Science explains "slips-and-capture errors" - 07/22/2010 Comments

Force Science pinpoints human dynamics of police-on-police shootings - 07/08/2010 Comments

The ultimate tragedy: what's the truth about police-on-police shootings? - 06/24/2010

Old drugs get new uses in fighting critical-incident trauma, researchers say - 06/10/2010

Why shooting to wound doesn’t make sense scientifically, legally, or tactically - 05/26/2010 Comments

Study: Cops use wrong tactics in questioning witnesses - 05/13/2010

Head-mounted cameras in use-of-force encounters - 04/15/2010 Comments

Tips for interviewing of OIS survivors - 04/08/2010

“Excessive” shots and falling assailants: A fresh look at OIS subtleties - 03/04/2010

Emergency docs on excited delirium: "Yes, it's for real!" - 11/19/2009 Comments

What new gaze pattern findings mean for your training - 11/04/2009

Force Science questions new TASER report on Canada incident - 08/18/2009 Comments

One more piece of life-saving equipment you should carry - 05/01/2009

New study yields unique grid for computing suspect speed in officer attacks - 04/17/2009

Officer-rescue survey results raise key training issue - 03/18/2009

Important memory issues for law enforcement - 01/21/2009

Do's and Don'ts of Questioning Young Suspects in Major Crimes - 12/11/2008

Stress & memory: Important new findings from FSRC research - 11/25/2008

An officer's down in a kill zone that's still hot. What should you do? - 11/13/2008

New TASER decision has extra meat for law enforcement - 09/26/2008

New research offers hope for cops fighting terrorists - 09/12/2008

Are officers' “gaze control and scan patterns” linked to their performance? - 09/05/2008

New study ranks risks of injury from 5 major force options - 07/23/2008 Comments

Practical pointers for preventing "suicide by inches" - 07/22/2008

“The Pain Behind the Badge”: Powerful new documentary explores officers’ trips to the edge—and back. - 06/26/2008

New study: TASERs “as safe as weapons can be,” not “instruments of death” - 06/06/2008 Comments

Solo officers vs. active killers: Officers speak out - 05/25/2008 Comments

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Ohio trainer makes the case for single-officer entry against active killers - 05/14/2008 Comments

1st Force Science Certification Class a Success - 04/15/2008

Officer's pain is others' gain:
Shooting becomes a catalyst for change - 03/26/2008 Comments

“Triangle of Death”: Is the threat real? - 03/10/2008

What the new study of shootings of unarmed suspects means to you - 02/27/2008 Comments

New study may “radically alter” how police deadly force is viewed - 02/11/2008 Comments

Low-cost training in crisis decision-making that still “makes ’em sweat” - 02/01/2008 Comments

"Canadian Response" technique brings quick restraint of combative, super-strong subjects - 12/17/2007 Comments

New study provides realistic look at school crimes - 12/09/2007

One agency's innovation for easing shift fatigue - 12/07/2007 Comments

Experts look at a young officer’s murderous rampage - 10/17/2007 Comments

Police and sleep problems: Are you a 40-percenter? - 09/19/2007 Comments

Distractions and aggressive subjects — what a new study and past experience tell us - 08/29/2007 Comments

The camera doesn’t lie, right? Wel-l-l-l-l-l-l..... - 07/25/2007 Comments

What promotes peak performance in lethal-force conflicts? - 06/29/2007 Comments

New study: We're getting better prepared to win on the street and in court - 06/27/2007 Comments

A look at San Jose PD's new excited delirium protocol - 06/11/2007

Researchers move closer to explaining high performance; New Force Science study hopes to identify "best" training - 05/21/2007

New findings from FBI about cop attackers and their weapons - 05/09/2007

"Our cops are ticking time bombs for lack of sleep” - 05/07/2007 Comments

You snooze, you lose? The opposite may be true - 04/23/2007 Comments

The Lethal Employee - 04/20/2007 Comments

Is excited delirium a fake condition invented to whitewash abusive force? - 04/09/2007

New tests: Even inexperienced shooters can be fast, accurate when shooting cops - 03/28/2007

Drunk, drugged, violence-prone suspects most likely to be shot by police - 02/12/2007

New findings about simulation training and post-shooting interview stress - 01/02/2007

“Contagious Gunfire”: Fact or Fiction? - 12/01/2006

Facing possible life sentence, Investigator fights to prove he’s not a murderer - 10/25/2006

"It's scary how easily an officer can end up charged with murder" - 10/23/2006

Cell phone studies shed light on how officers’ memories work in shootings - 10/11/2006

Does being angry put you at higher risk for getting injured? - 09/24/2006

How are 5 percenters created? By 'effortful study,' report says - 08/07/2006

Study confirms more training brings better response and memory in high-intensity encounters - 08/07/2006

One officer’s wild encounter with "excited delirium" - 07/05/2006

Cops give weaker commands in violent encounters, ground-breaking new FSRC studies reveal - 06/30/2006

Top challenges for deadly force trainers - 06/21/2006

How to ensure "fair, neutral and fact-finding" officer-involved shooting investigations, Part 2 - 06/13/2006

How to ensure "fair, neutral and fact-finding" officer-involved shooting investigations - 05/08/2006 Comments

Why shooting to wound doesn't make sense, Part 2 - 04/12/2006

Special Force Science series: Why shooting to wound doesn't make sense scientifically, legally or tactically - 04/05/2006

Are controversial recommendations about officers in shootings really valid? - 04/02/2006 Comments

Should troubled officers take antidepressant medication? - 02/22/2006

How Force Science saved 2 "gun cops" from trial for murder - 12/23/2005

New reports stress TASER's safety and effectiveness - 11/12/2005

Jogging gear can look like explosive vest - 10/26/2005

10 training tips for handling "excited delirium" - 10/14/2005

IACP Suicide Bomber Report: Responses from the field - 10/03/2005

Experts speak out on new IACP suicide bomber guidelines: What are your thoughts? - 09/21/2005

Suicide Bombers: What new IACP "training keys" say you need to know - 09/19/2005

Are cops wild in the streets? New study says no way! - 08/15/2005

Study reveals important truths hidden in the details of officer-involved shootings - 08/10/2005 Comments

New findings expand understanding of tunnel vision, auditory blocking and lag time - 08/01/2005

Cops share details of encounters with naked suspects - 06/28/2005

Naked suspects: No laughing matter - 06/28/2005 Comments

New shell ejection study suggests gun handling determines where empties fall - 06/21/2005

Edged Weapon Defense: Is or was the 21-foot rule valid? (Part 2) - 06/13/2005 Comments

Edged Weapon Defense: Is or was the 21-foot rule valid? (Part 1) - 05/23/2005 Comments

LEO's respond to concealed carry debate - 04/04/2005 Comments

6 steps to the cutting edge: "A plan for winning" - 04/01/2005

"Police execution" or a lightning-fast, justifiable shooting? - 03/16/2005

Have gun, will travel? - 03/04/2005

Should cops stop using TASERs? - 12/13/2004

Will traumatic stress sharpen your memory ... or sabotage it? - 12/08/2004 Comments

Can you really prevent unintentional discharges? - 12/08/2004

"Scan Patterns" next breakthrough in survival training? - 12/08/2004

Latest findings and recommendations about traumatic stress - 12/08/2004

Court tosses cop's manslaughter indictment after a briefing on Force Science findings - 12/08/2004

New findings on shell ejection patterns help clear officer on trial for murder - 12/07/2004

Tip: Let the tears flow - 09/17/2008

The Force Science Institute was launched in 2004 by Executive Director Bill Lewinski, PhD. -- a specialist in police psychology -- to conduct unique lethal-force experiments. The non-profit FSRC, based at Minnesota State University-Mankato, uses sophisticated time-and-motion measurements to document-for the first time-critical hidden truths about the physical and mental dynamics of life-threatening events, particularly officer-involved shootings. Its startling findings profoundly impact on officer training and safety and on the public's naive perceptions.

What is "Force Science™"?
It's the application of unbiased scientific principles and processes in repetitive physical experiments designed to determine the true nature of suspect provocation and officer response (action-reaction dynamics). FSRC's ground-breaking, reproducible studies address real problems encountered by officers on the street and are meticulously documented.

What subjects has Force Science Institute investigated?
The list grows constantly as funding becomes available to explore new topics. Already researchers have destroyed myths and discovered cold facts about some of the most controversial force issues, including:

How threatening suspects can end up shot in the back by well-trained officers making valid, lawful shooting decisions.
Why officers continue to fire "extra" rounds in high-adrenalin confrontations, even after the threat has ended.
What popular tactics used by some officers trying to reduce lag time actually put the officers at greater risk.

How can FSRC help you?
In addition to being a subscriber to the Force Science Institute News e-newsletter which will help you stay up-to-date with the Center's practical, cutting-edge research, Force Science Institute's scientific research can help with complex I.A. investigations, grand jury hearings, civil suits, criminal cases, department use-of-force audits, training scenarios and other challenging situations where professional insights based on Force Science Institute research projects are needed. To register for your free, direct-delivery subscription, please visit www.forcescience.org and click on the e-newsletter registration button. Who can benefit from FForce Science Institute?
Resources offered by FSRC are essential if you are: a law enforcement trainer, administrator or line officer…use-of-force investigator, PIO or police union rep…judge, prosecutor or police attorney in criminal cases, civil suits or administrative hearings…medical examiner or coroner…military tactician, or other professional involved in force matters.

Contact Bill Lewinski

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