EP40 "Exploring Police Use of Force" with Dr. William Bozeman

Summary In this episode of the Trainers Bullpen, host Chris Butler interviews Dr. William Bozeman, a leading expert in law enforcement use of force and injury epidemiology. They discuss the findings of Dr. Bozeman's research on police use of force, particularly focusing on Taser use and Vascular Neck Restraint (VNR). The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the actual rates of injury associated with various use of force modalities, the methodology behind the research, and the implications for law enforcement training and public safety. Dr. Bozeman emphasizes the need for evidence-based practices in policing and the significance of high-quality research in shaping policies and training programs. The research strongly contradicts the popular narrative that police use of force is climbing or ‘out of control’. Takeaways • Dr. Bozeman's research focuses on injury epidemiology related to police use of force. • Taser use has been shown to rarely cause significant injuries. • 98% of subjects involved in use of force incidents had no or mild injuries. • Vascular Neck Restraint (VNR) has a remarkably high success rate with no fatalities in the study. • Police do not use force very often, with less than 1% of interactions resulting in force. • High-quality research is essential for informing law enforcement policies and training. • Courageous conversations about the effectiveness and necessity of certain tools, like batons, are needed as agencies continue to modernize their policing practices.