Photo Courtesy: Christine Corrigan, The Westerly Sun
When responding to a perceived threat, an officer’s adrenaline takes over. The officer can experience tunnel vision or visual accuity, a condition that brings the body to focus on the finest of details, and oftentimes the officer will need to determine within 1.5 seconds how to react.
It’s a difficult decision for officers any time the use of force is needed, Westerly (RI) police sergeants Robert Greene and Ailton Medina said, but constant training and tactical practice help police determine the best course of action when use of force is needed, helping protect themselves and the community — including those they must use force against.
[sc name=”Article Mobile Ad” ]
Medina and Greene gave a class of 21 Westerly residents an inside look at the challenges and techniques when it comes to use of force Wednesday, part of an eight-week citizens academy designed to provide insight and hands-on experiences to help local residents better understand the role of police in today’s world.