Due to the COVID Pandemic, police officer classroom in-service training across the state was placed on hold. With the pandemic receding and all Grand Rapids Police Officers having either recovered from COVID or vaccinated against it, limited training has resumed once again.Â
On Tuesday and Thursday, Officers of the Grand Rapids Police Department, including Hospital Security Officers and volunteer Police Reserve Officers, took part in their annual Use of Force/Defensive Tactics Training. The eight-hour course began with four hours of classroom instruction at the Grand Rapids City Hall. Officer Troy Scott and Officer Matt OâRourke reviewed recent changes in state law, de-escalation techniques and police department policy. Sergeant Jeff Carlson covered requirements and precautions in the use of the TASER.Â
I was leery about this new technology. It was a good 20 years ago and something called a “TASER” was just being marketed to police departments. “TASER, Inc.” now renamed