Falls Twp. Police Supervisor Explains De-Escalation, Use-Of-Force Policies

In light of the national conversation on policing, the incoming Falls Township chief of police spoke to the Board of Supervisors and public during Monday night’s meeting.

Lt. Nelson Whitney, who has been hired as the next chief, outlined the department’s cultural diversity, sexual harassment, de-escalation , avoiding in-custody deaths, defensive, firearms, procedural justice, and excited delirium training. The latter training prepares officers to deal with people high on bath salts, synthetic marijuana, PCP, and methamphetamine.

“Training is something we need to continually reinforce in the police department. We need highly-trained officers and they do a great job … Training has to be continually reinforced,” Whitney said.

Looking at the township’s arrest data relating to race, Whitney said arrests by race between 2010 and 2019 largely line up with Census data. He noted that it might be problematic if the data showed large disproportions between race and arrests.

Whitney explained the department undertakes annual reviews of arrests.

The Falls Township Police Department has long-banned neck restraints on suspects.

“That’s not something our officers are trained to do or permitted by policy,” Whitney said.

Patrol vehicles have forward-facing restraint belts to keep suspects safer and more comfortable. Leg restraints are also available if they are needed, Whitney said.

Officers are trained and able to use less-lethal options like pepper spray, Tasers, batons, and bean bag projectile guns on calls, Whitney said.

In Falls Township, officers are trained and work to de-escalate situations when possible, the lieutenant said.

“There is a high value placed on human life,” Whitney said, citing the department’s efforts to improve outcomes for cardiac arrest cases and overdoses.

“Our officers are inclined to go ‘hands on’ before using deadly force. What I mean by that is that in a situation where deadly force would be legally justified, again and again you see examples of our officers electing to use a lower level of force,” he said.

The longtime Falls Township police supervisor pointed to a recent incident when a man with a gun who was moving toward an unarmed person following a shooting, the suspect was tackled by officers and they did not have to use their service weapons.

“It’s important that officers be comfortable with the de-escalation techniques that we have,” Whitney said. “When you watch some of these incidents that have occurred nationwide … You say to yourself as an experienced officer, ‘why did that officer even have their gun out?’”

Whitney said the township police agency has strong relationships with other agencies and the local business community.

In addition, Whitney said he hopes to expand a program where each squad has at least two officers who are also emergency medical technicians.

Supervisor Chairperson Jeff Dence and the other elected officials thanked Whitney for his presentation.

Supervisors Vice Chairperson Jeff Boraski explained that he invited Whitney to speak of the issue because he has seen how much work the police department does to keep up on training and policies.

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