This week, Fargo Police Department trainers attended ICAT: Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics training, developed by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). ICAT is a training program that provides first responding police officers with the tools, skills, and options they need to successfully and safely defuse situations, especially for situations involving persons who are unarmed or are armed with weapons other than firearms, and who may be experiencing a mental health or other crisis.
Research, which evaluated the impact of PERF’s ICAT training program, implemented by the Louisville, KY Metro Police Department in 2019, found a 28% reduction in use of force by Louisville Metro officers; a 26% decline in citizen injuries; and a 36% reduction in officer injuries.
In 2022, all officers will be trained with the Critical Decision-Making Model that helps officers assess situations, make safe and effective decisions to de-escalate situations and reduce the risk of injury to both the officer and person involved.