Law enforcement training

Generally I support law enforcement officers, the overwhelming majority of whom perform an often times thankless job under extraordinarily challenging and, at times, dangerous conditions.

But there is valid reason to call into question some shootings.  This is all the more the case when videos seem to indicate some victims were complying with directions or appear not to present a physical threat.

In such cases, I am left wondering about the quality, rigor, and frequency of training for the involved officers.  Perhaps unfairly, I want to compare law enforcement training to that which my fellow Marines received prior to deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan, most notably during the exceptionally realistic Mojave Viper exercises at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Marine Corps Base 29 Palms.

With role players, Hollywood inspired special effects, and demanding scenarios, the Marines were relentlessly trained on the combat realities they would face.  And this training was reinforced once "in country," military speak for being in the foreign country.

In some ways, the missions for which they trained are comparable to situations law enforcement might encounter when it comes to decisions regarding the employment of deadly force.  It is not 100% the same, but similar enough to warrant a comparison.

Do law enforcement agencies put their officers through similarly demanding training?  If they do, how often?

My guess is that some large police forces may have the resources to do some pretty good training and have individual officers repeat it on a reasonable schedule.  But it is also my guess that many, if not most, relatively small forces do not. 

Without such demanding, rigorous, relentless, and repeated training, law enforcement officers are likely not best prepared for potential deadly force encounters.  As adrenaline pumps through the body in response to some perceived or real threat, decisions must be made in a flash of second.  Training can equip the individual to deal with not only the body's reactions and the accompanying fear, but improve the judgment required in such situations.

I hope the inquiry into the Tulsa shooting includes focus on the training the shooting officer has received, its quality, its frequency, and its productivity.  Another guess is that such focus may be exceptionally instructive.