Twelve years ago, Force Science published The Influence of Officer Positioning on Movement During a Threatening Traffic Stop Scenario. Led by Dr. Bill Lewinski, the “Traffic Stop Study” was the first systematic research into how officer positioning at a vehicle could affect survival during a sudden armed assault. Since then, the study has been widely cited […] The post Safe or Safer: The Mitigation Zone Revisited first appeared on Force Science.| Force Science
Discover how stress impacts perception in Dr. Marc Green’s 5-part series—Von Kliem highlights key lessons for attorneys, trainers, and investigators.| Force Science - Research | Training | Consulting
Lon Bartel’s new study reveals humans may not stop shooting instantly, even when the threat ends—even under perfect lab conditions.| Force Science - Research | Training | Consulting
NAFTO 2025 featured top trainers delivering science-backed strategies to help FTOs build confident, resilient officers ready to perform under stress.| Force Science - Research | Training | Consulting
In many of today’s efforts to hold police “accountable,” officers are no longer judged by the constitutional or agency standards they were trained to follow. Instead, they are evaluated using vague, academic, or entirely manufactured standards—many of which contradict their own training, policies, and practices. Concepts once confined to academic settings—often labeled “generally accepted police […] The post Weaponizing “Generally Accepted Police Practices”: The Dangers of P...| Force Science
Some call Barnes v. Felix a game-changer. Others say it reinforces the basics. The ruling may be more precise than sweeping.| Force Science - Research | Training | Consulting
Force Science names Brian Baxter as CEO, bringing 30+ years of public safety leadership to advance research, training, and honest accountability| Force Science - Research | Training | Consulting
Police reform often overlooks operational realities, ignores human performance science, and amplifies unqualified voices over practical, evidence-based insight.| Force Science - Research | Training | Consulting
Abstract: This study focused on the perceptual, cognitive, and physiological processes involved in the perception-reaction phases of shooting and then stopping in response to stimuli. Utilizing a police/military training simulator, the researchers aimed to understand the lag between the presentation of a stop stimulus and the actual cessation of the action. Participants, predominantly college-aged adults, engaged in a shooting exercise using a VirTra simulator with a CO2-powered Glock 17, sim...| Force Science
Much ink has been spilled on the controversial question of whether involved officers should review video evidence before writing use-of-force reports or giving statements. The answer to that question requires an attempt to balance the costs, benefits, and risks of exposing involved officers to video evidence before their experience is documented. There has been comparatively […] The post When Should Investigators Watch Video Evidence? A Novel Approach in America’s Heartland first ap...| Force Science
Uncover the scientific realities surrounding officer performance under stress, action/reaction time, memory, and decision-making, during force encounters.| Force Science - Research | Training | Consulting
Dr. Ed. Geiselman explores the Cognitive Interview and how officers involved in critical incidents can prepare to minimize errors and maximize accurate recollections.| Force Science - Research | Training | Consulting
“The officer should have waited until he actually saw the suspect’s gun. If the suspect tried to shoot him, he could have shot first.” Anonymous The above quote didn’t come from an angry anti-police protestor or a biased civil rights attorney. It came from a police legal advisor. It came from an intelligent, civic-minded, pro-police| Force Science - Research | Training | Consulting
Editor’s Note: Studying performance errors in policing can be difficult for researchers who cannot ethically replicate the dangerous conditions present in lethal force encounters. To overcome this limitation, researchers routinely consider evidence derived from other professions and industries (e.g., aerospace (Airbus), aeronautics (NASA), pharmaceutical, occupational safety and health, medical, industrial engineering, and transportation). Recent events| Force Science - Research | Training | Consulting
Reframing, visual focus, and experience can facilitate expert decision-making and performance—even under high-levels of stress!| Force Science - Research | Training | Consulting
