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BPD Officers Refresh Skills in Defensive Tactics

Bellevue Police officers received training recently to recertify them in defensive tactics (DT). Every officer on the force is required to recertify every year in Pressure Point Control Tactics (PPCT).

In the world of law enforcement today, the application of force follows very strict principles set forth in agency policies, state mandates, federal court decisions and common practices. Police officers are given the essential training and skill sets to subdue a violent suspect with as much force as necessary to make an arrest.

Sergeant Matthew Jarvis is one of BPD’s DT instructors. He has been teaching for the entire 25 years BPD has been using PPCT practices and principles. Jarvis said the advice he gives to officers in his classes is often, "There is no second place and no second chance when dealing with violent criminals. Train as if your life depends upon it because it does!"

Jarvis added the department’s use of the PPCT system over the past two and-a-half decades has been tremendously successful. BPD has eight PPCT certified instructors. The techniques that PPCT teaches are effective, safe and can be defended in a court of law. The ultimate goal however is to maintain the safety of the officers as well as the suspect when making an arrest.

Photo: Officer Page and Officer Stuck demonstrate a ground fighting technique.