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The Legal and Justifiable Use of Force - Pavletic

This course complies with the guidelines of the following mandate(s):

• Const. Use of LE Authority | 1.0 Hour
• Legal Updates | 1.0 Hour
• Procedural Justice | 1.0 Hour
• Law concerning stops, searches, and the use of force | 5.0 Hours
• Specialized: Lead Homicide Investigator | 8.0 Hours

Course Description
This course will focus on police officer use of force considerations in on-duty and off-duty scenarios. Practical use of force issues will be examined by viewing actual videos from live police use of force encounters and discussing the officer’s decisions in those instances. The course will review U.S. Supreme Court cases, Federal Court decisions, Illinois statutes and case law, and what our courts specifically look for in police use of force situations. The course will also address use of force occurrences, ranging from crimes in progress to the use of force in medical emergencies. The material will consider use of force from an officer’s perspective: pre-assault indicators, force options that may be utilized, the use of intermediate weapons, permitted uses of force, prohibited uses of force, and the deadly use of force. Instruction will include proper documentation, Qualified Immunity, Garrity issues, and the Illinois Uniform Peace Officer’s Disciplinary Act. The program will conclude with a discussion of the “10 Myths of Police Use of Force.”

Topics Discussed

• Video analysis of actual police use of force events and decision making
• Use of force during crimes in progress; offenders fleeing a crime scene; medical emergencies
• Use of force where offender is neither evading arrest nor committing a crime
• Review of Illinois, Federal, and U.S. Supreme Court cases regarding police use of force
• What our courts consider when evaluating an officer’s use of force
• Pre-assault indicators; force options; quantum of force; use of intermediate weapons
• Acceptable methods of force; unacceptable methods of force; use of deadly force
• Documenting an officer’s use of force
• Probable cause and Qualified Immunity; Garrity issues
• The Illinois Uniform Peace Officer’s Disciplinary Act
• “The 10 Myths of Police Use of Force”

Instructor
Jeffrey J. Pavletic is an award-winning trial attorney who has built a reputation of integrity and exceptional skill in the courtroom.  As a prosecutor for the past two decades, he has tried countless cases to victory (including approximately 150 jury trials with a concentration in homicide and violent crime).  In addition to trying some of the highest profile and complex cases that have occurred in the history of Northern Illinois, Jeff was Chief of the Felony Review Division, and is currently the First Assistant State’s Attorney for the Lake County (Illinois) State’s Attorney’s Office.  Jeff served as Special Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in the impeachment of President Clinton.  (continued next page)

His duties included all aspects of independent counsel review, the impeachment inquiry, presentation of articles of impeachment to the U.S. House of Representatives, all witness interviews and depositions of trial witnesses, and the actual impeachment trial before the U.S. Senate.  Jeff has received numerous federal, state, and local awards.

These include Illinois State Crime Commission’s State’s Attorney of the Year, Felony Trial Attorney of the Year, The Fred L. Foreman Criminal Justice Award, The Ruth Rosengarden Victim Service provider Award, and a special U.S. House of Representatives Award presented by Congressman Henry Hyde.  Jeff has been featured on 20/20, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Court TV, and the Discovery Channel.  Jeff is a published author and a well-respected legal instructor who holds undergraduate and graduate faculty positions and has received accolades as a nationally renowned lecturer, training thousands of police officers, lawyers, prosecutors, and judges.   

Member Tuition: None | Non-Member Tuition:  None (Members receive priority)
Funded in Partnership with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board

This training covers the following mandates:

• Constitutional / Proper Use of LE Authority - 1.0 hours
• Legal Updates - 1.0 hours
• Procedural Justice - 1.0 hours
• Use of Force: Law concerning stops, searches, and use of force - 5.0 hours

Specialized Training

• Lead Homicide Investigator - 8.0 hours