Police Study: Benefits of Officers Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
On October 20th 2021 Officer Adrian Alaniz (Pasco Police Department), Alex Larmey (Owner and head instructor of Evol Octopus Jiu-Jitsu Academy), and the Pasco Police Foundation initiated the first iteration of what became a 12 month study tracking the effects of 15 Pasco Police Officers voluntarily training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu outside of work hours. This program produced significant results in three main areas. The first area is anecdotal evidence from the Officers themselves showing an 80% improvement in Officer confidence, and improvements in Officer mental/physical health, department morale, and community interaction. The second area is the evidence showing improved on-the-job performance with a 57% reduction in the reportable “use-of-force incidents” of the Officers participating in the program as from 2019 to 2022. The third area is that this program served as a catalyst for Pasco Police Department’s ownership of the newest regional Police Academy for the state of Washington as well as the replication of our program by other regional police departments.
Program Breakdown: The initial program involved 10 Police Officers from Pasco Police Department agreeing to complete a minimum of 48 training hours over a period of 6 months. The training was funded by the Pasco Police Foundation and took place at Evol Octopus Jiu-Jitsu Academy under the instruction of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 1st degree Black Belt and Master Combatives trainer Alex Larmey. The initial purpose of the program was to “enhance police officers’ skills which utilize minimal, yet effective use of force in order to subdue a suspect or defend against an aggressor,” as well as provide qualitative and quantitative data to promote future training of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in law enforcement departments. At the start of the program, the Officers were evaluated using both a questionnaire and a full force arrest scenario to assess their confidence level and performance. These arrest scenarios were recorded for future review. The Officers then participated in regularly conducted classes alongside civilians at the Academy with the expectations of completing at least 8 hours of training a month for a period of 6 months. Each month we audited attendance and dropped/replaced students if they did not meet the minimum training time. At the end of the first 6-month period, we conducted a post evaluation test consisting of the arrest scenario and questionnaire that was implemented on day 1. The results were so encouraging that we extended the study for an additional 6 months and added an additional 5 Officers for a total of 15 Officers in the program. Phase 1 was conducted from October 20th, 2021 – April 20th 2022. Phase 2 was conducted from April 20th 2022-October 20th 2022.
Results #1: The feedback from the Officers in the program, the Officers peers, and the community in which they Police has provided anecdotal evidence supporting the success of the program. This evidence shows improvement in Officer confidence, Officer mental/physical health, department morale, and community interaction. At the beginning of our police study, Officers would first conduct an evaluation test consisting of a questionnaire and a full force arrest scenario where they evaluate their confidence level and performance immediately afterwards (these arrest scenarios were recorded for future review). The question presented to the Officers after they completed their arrest scenario was as follows: “On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being not at all confident and 10 being very confident), I felt confident and capable to gain control of the physical situation in a non-violent manner.” The initial average confidence score was 4.1. After completion of the first 6 months of training we implemented the arrest scenario and questionnaire again. Officers average score after 6 months of training was 7.4, showing a confidence increase of 80%. This is important because there is a direct correlation between “Officer confidence” and a decrease in reportable use-of-force. If the Officer is more confident in their abilities, they are more likely to modulate force accordingly because they have less fear going into physical engagements. In addition, civilians are less likely to escalate situations because they immediately read the confidence in the Officers voice, body language, and actions.
Many Officers reported a massive benefit to their physical and mental health. One Officer lost almost 40 lbs, went from considering quitting law enforcement to becoming a DT instructor and testing for Sergeant. In addition, his colleagues stated that he had a 180-degree attitude change turning into a more positive and engaging member of the team. Another Officer in the program described training BJJ regularly as a massive benefit to his mental health. This Officer works on a task force reviewing child pornography and other horrific crimes that made it difficult to leave work behind and engage with his family at home. Training each night allowed this Officer to shut his brain off and decompress, so that, when he did go home, he could continue to be a loving husband and father. Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu engages the fight response of your brain, which shuts down the higher thinking processes of your brain. For many people suffering from post-traumatic stress BJJ provides a healthy escape to trauma and builds up mental resiliency.
Allowing the Officers to train together and with the public that they serve has also had a positive impact on department morale and the community’s interaction with law enforcement. The Officers that train share this common hobby. They bond, joke, and discuss Jiu-Jitsu at work. It has built a family like environment between many of these Pasco Police Officers that did not exist prior to this program’s implementation. We have over 250 civilian students that also train at Evol Octopus Jiu-Jitsu Academy and they come from all walks of life. Training and sweating with these police officers has made it easier for the students to relate to the officers as people rather than just a face behind a badge. One member of our academy grew up in Los Angeles and a bad experience with Law Enforcement as a teenager lead him to fear and dislike law enforcement. Since training at Evol Octopus with these Officers, that individual’s attitude regarding Police Officers has completely changed and he is now good friends with many of the Police Officers in the program. There are many other positive anecdotal testimonies from every Officer involved stating benefits far beyond just technical proficiency. Officers training in this program are more confident, physically and mentally fit, and are building positive relationships with the community. You can see this reflected in their testimony, the data, and even the body cam footage of these Officers over the past year.
Results #2: At the conclusion of our 12-month program we used the internal reporting system of the Professional Standards Division in the Pasco Police Department to look at data involving the Officers in our study and the Department as a whole. We took the pre-covid year of 2019 (January 1st 2019 – December 31st 2019) and used that as a baseline. In the 2019 year we pulled all the reportable use-of-force incidents for each Officer in our program that completed at least 6 months or 48 hours of training time, this information identified 28incidents. During the same time period (January 1st 2019 – December 31st 2019) the Pasco Police Department as a whole had 99reportable use-of-force incidents. We then took the study period (October 20th 2021 – October 3rd 2022) and pulled the exact same reports. The Officers involved in our study group had a total of 12reportable use-of-force incidents from October 20th 2021 – October 3rd 2022 showing a 57% reduction in reportable use-of-force incidents. This is made even more impactful when compared to the department during the same time period. Pasco Police department from October 20th 2021 – October 3rd 2022 had a total of 119reportable use-of-force incidents showing a 20% increase in total incidents from our baseline year in 2019 to our study period in 2022. This statistic validates the effectiveness of Police Officers training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu regularly, These Officers are keeping themselves and the community they serve safer. Use-of-force incidents only become reportable if there are injuries to the Officers, injuries to the suspects, or if complaints or misconduct is reported. This means that the Officers are deescalating and, in many cases, preventing dangerous situations due to increased confidence, and improved training. We have several examples taken from live body cameras that demonstrates this training in action, leading to controlled arrests and prevention of reportable issues. Having Police Officers train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu makes Officers and the Community SAFER while also reducing liability for the departments and the city.
Results #3: The third area is that this program served as a catalyst for Pasco Police Department’s ownership of the newest regional training center for the state of Washington as well as the replication of our program by other regional police departments. On April 23rd 2022, which concluded the first 6 months of our Police study, we hosted the first ever “Pacific Northwest Defensive Tactics Conference” held at Evol Octopus Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Pasco, WA. We had over 30 defensive tactics instructors from all over the state train and discuss in a working group how best to improve law enforcement training. During this conference, we presented our programs initial results and future plans. Two of the instructors in attendance where Kyle McCutchen of the King County Sheriff’s Office, and George Hissung of the Seattle Police Department. These two Officer’s have since taken key training positions at the Washington Criminal Justice Training Comission. This relationship along with the breakthroughs the Pasco Police Department has demonstrated in both supporting and participating in our Police Study played a major role in the Pasco Police Department gaining ownership of the newest regional training center in the state of Washington. Sgt Daniel Ward, who has been a dedicated member of the Police study group was identified as the Assistant Commander of the Pasco Regional Police Academy. In addition to this success, other lead defensive tactics instructors that attended our conference reached out for assistance in implementing a program identical to the one we conducted. One of those was the Richland Police Department. On February 2nd 2022 Alex Larmey, Adrian Alaniz, Daniel Ward, and members of the Pasco Police Department command staff had a meeting with key members of the Richland’s command staff and training unit to discuss our program. After the Defensive Tactics Conference on April 23rd 2022, we sent the program outline to Master Defensive Tactics Instructor Jeff Muai of the Richland Police Department. Since then, the Richland Police Department was able to obtain funding for 20 Police Officers through their Police Cares Foundation and additional grants to pay for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training for a period of 6 months nearly identical to our program. Two other departments are also in the process of implementing the blueprint that we created to fund these Officers training, which will hopefully enable other Officers, their departments, and the community to see the exceptional, positive results this type of training can produce.
In conclusion, the twelve-month Police Study conducted by Evol Octopus Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Pasco Police Department, and the Pasco Police Foundation was a tremendous success. This study involved funding 15 Police Officers to voluntarily train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at least 8 hours a month for a period of 12 months at Evol Octopus Jiu-Jitsu Academy located in Pasco, WA. This program lead to an 80% increase in Officer confidence and a 57% decrease in reportable use-of-force incidents for Officers involved., It also improved Officer physical and mental health, created a more positive community perception, and enhanced department morale. Finally, it served as a catalyst leading to the Pasco Police Department gaining ownership of the newest Regional Training Center and lead to several departments utilizing the blueprint for success to force multiply these positive effects. This program should continue to be funded for all Officers at the Pasco Police Department that wish to participate and should eventually be an untouchable part of the City of Pasco Budget due to these tremendous benefits to both the Law Enforcement Officers and the Community they serve. In addition, every Police Officer involved in the study should receive a yearly stipend of at least $250 to pay for training uniforms. Our Vision is that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training is not only FREE but incentivized, and eventually mandatory for all Police Officers in our community. #bjjmakeitmandatory