Changing the Perception
by Simulating Real Life
By Sergeant Casey Bokavich, Redding Police Department
The law enforcement profession has been under considerable
scrutiny and pressure as a result of several high-profile
incidents that have rocked the very foundation of our society.
So in January of 2015, the
Redding Police Department began
a program of community outreach
with the goal of educating civicminded individuals regarding the
use of force by law enforcement.
Like many agencies, the Redding
Police Department had previously
provided a cursory overview to
members of the community on
the topic of use of force. However,
the department observed that
inaccurate and, at times, deliberate
misinformation, regarding police
use of force was being disseminated
to our community through third
parties. As such, the Redding
Police Department recognized an
opportunity to proactively reach
out to our community in an effort
to provide accurate information
available on the topic of police use of
force. This effort has been a unique
opportunity for citizens to take
the same Force Options class that
California law enforcement personnel
are mandated to complete every
two years as part of their continuing
professional training. The fourhour block of instruction includes
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