Force Science News

Editor’s note: A big congratulations to the 45 newly minted Force Science Analysts who received their certification documents on June 11 from the most recent Force Science Certification Course. This impressive group of the best and brightest in law enforcement represented 32 agencies from 15 states and 3 countries. Well done!

The ultimate tragedy: What’s the truth about police-on-police shootings?

Part 1 of a 2-part series

The first comprehensive nationwide survey of mistaken-identity, “friendly fire” fatalities in law enforcement has been completed by a governor’s task force in New York, unearthing a wealth of informative and useful data but raising a controversial specter that “unconscious racial biases” against minority officers may influence some of these tragedies.

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Editor’s note: For those who didn’t get a chance to read the feature articles on Force Science that appeared recently in the Police Magazine and Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement as well as the Discovery Channel feature on the recent Force Science research project focused on the dangers posed by prone subjects, CLICK HERE or visit: www.forcescience.org/featured.html to see them. You’ll also find a fascinating article co-authored by three Force Science staffers that recently appeared in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.

I. Coming up: Does Race Really Influence Cop-on-Cop Shootings? 
The Force Science Perspective

A Governor’s Task Force in New York, formed to examine police-on-police shootings nationwide, recently issued an extensive report that claims “intrinsic” racial bias may be involved when out-of-uniform black officers are mistaken for criminals and shot dead by their colleagues.

But a Force Science Position Paper on the subject, which is attached as an appendix to the Task Force study, reaches a much different conclusion. More important than any racial considerations in these tragic events, says the Force Science analysis, are likely to be certain biological and physiological laws of human performance.

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Have insights or comments to share with Force Science News? You can e-mail us at: editor@forcescience.org. We always look forward to hearing from readers!

What do you wish you’d known when you started in law enforcement?

Reflecting on your career in police training, force assessment, or street ops, what is one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you were fresh on the job?

Former sergeant Brian Willis, the well-known motivational trainer and certified Force Science Analyst, put that question to a wide cross-section of North American law enforcement professionals, ranging from members of major urban departments to obscure rural agencies. From the responses of 35, including other FSAs and Force Science advisors, he has fashioned a compelling new book, If I Knew Then: Life Lessons from Cops on the Street.

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Editor’s note: Check out the most recent issues of POLICE magazine and Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement for feature articles on Force Science as well as the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin for an article co-authored by FS Certification Course instructor Dr. Matt Sztajnkrycer, FS Executive Director Dr. Bill Lewinski and FS’s VP of Operations Scott Buhrmaster. Copies of the articles will be on the Force Science Web site soon.

In this edition:

I. New study: Cops use wrong tactics in questioning witnesses

II. Newest cert class grads expand Force Science world network

III. Exceptional firearms trainer pulls the pin after 30 years of keeping cops safe

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Editor’s note: Registrations are being taken for the Force Science Certification Course scheduled for June 7-11 in Wisconsin. CLICK HERE for full course details or visit www.forcescience.org/milwaukeejune.pdf. To register, e-mail training@forcescience.org or call (773) 481-4964. The Certification Course schedule for San Jose is currently sold out. To be added to a waiting list, e-mail info@forcescience.org.

New studies on multitasking: What’s your risk from brain overload?

New studies of the nature and challenges of multitasking have important implications about the safety of police driving, both on patrol and in high-speed pursuits, according to Dr. Bill Lewinski, executive director of the Force Science Institute.

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