LAPD updates training program to decrease the use of force

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Locally and nationally, police officers are under intense scrutiny when it comes to the use of force and police brutality.

"We make instantaneous decisions in a split second for the safety of ourselves, the suspect and for the community at large," LAPD Lt. David Rosenthal said.

In an attempt to reduce the number of officer-involved shootings and police beatings, the Los Angeles Police Department has designed an updated training program on the use of force.

Over 3,700 LAPD officers have gone through the 10-hour training class in Ahmanson Recruit Training Center in Westchester.

"What this focuses on though is the de-escalation of critical incidents, giving them a chance to work through these scenarios," LAPD Detective Meghan Aguilar said.

News reporters participated in the police officer's spot during a training class. In the scenario I participated in, there was a bank robbery, and I was the contact officer responding to the call with a trainee.

In the end, my partner and I were shot, and I got a glimpse of the stressful situations officers are in every day.

The training is designed to mimic real-life situations and helps officers learn how to work their way out of potentially deadly incidents.

LAPD statistics from last year show officers logged more than 1.5 million on-duty contacts, and 48 of those were listed as officer-involved shootings.

The hope is that training will de-escalate not just the heated situations but use-of-force stats as well.