Seminar Title
Use of Force Certification
Dates of Events
04/05/2027 through 04/09/2027
Last Updated: 09/08/2026
Instructor(s): John Jack Ryan, Michael (Mike) Irwin, Matthew Greely
Location: Tarrant County Sheriff's Academy - 1500 Circle Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76119
Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott Cityview - 6400 Overton Ridge Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76132
Hotel: Hampton Inn Fort Worth Cityview - 4799 S W Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX 76132
Course Registration Fee: $550
Instructor Bio
John Jack Ryan
Jack Ryan is an attorney in Rhode Island, a graduate Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude Suffolk University Law School and has 20 years of law enforcement experience as a police officer with the Providence Police Department, Providence, RI.
Jack’s law degree and experience as a police officer gives him the unique perspective of public safety legal and liability issues. Jack is a former adjunct faculty member at Salve Regina University and lectures frequently throughout the United States. He has authored several legal publications, including the LLRMI Best Selling “Legal Guide for Law Enforcement Officers and Supervisors” – an annually updated quick reference guide to U.S. Supreme Court case law impacting law enforcement policies and procedures. Jack has authored "Law Enforcement Best Practices" 6th Edition, "Jail and Best Practices", and "Emerging Legal Trends for SWAT, Tactical and Emergency Response Operations" Jack has written policies and procedures that have been adopted by over 1,000 law enforcement and corrections agencies across the United States.
Michael (Mike) Irwin
Mike Irwin retired as a Captain with the Illinois State Police. Mike was Chief of Police for the West Frankfort Police Department in Illinois from 2016-2019. Mike is a Use of Force expert witness in Federal and State court. He is a nationally recognized expert in MCATI, crowd control, undercover narcotics training and physical skills.
Matthew Greely
Detective Matthew Greely is a veteran Police Officer with the Providence, RI Police Department with over 15 years of dedicated law enforcement experience.
Matt currently serves as the lead firearms instructor and armorer for the Providence, RI Police Department. He is a member of the S.W.A.T team and serves as the team’s medic. Matt has trained thousands of officers in firearms and less lethal munitions. He is also a member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Detective Greely earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Anna Maria College.
Jack Ryan is an attorney in Rhode Island, a graduate Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude Suffolk University Law School and has 20 years of law enforcement experience as a police officer with the Providence Police Department, Providence, RI.
Jack’s law degree and experience as a police officer gives him the unique perspective of public safety legal and liability issues. Jack is a former adjunct faculty member at Salve Regina University and lectures frequently throughout the United States. He has authored several legal publications, including the LLRMI Best Selling “Legal Guide for Law Enforcement Officers and Supervisors” – an annually updated quick reference guide to U.S. Supreme Court case law impacting law enforcement policies and procedures. Jack has authored "Law Enforcement Best Practices" 6th Edition, "Jail and Best Practices", and "Emerging Legal Trends for SWAT, Tactical and Emergency Response Operations" Jack has written policies and procedures that have been adopted by over 1,000 law enforcement and corrections agencies across the United States.
Michael (Mike) Irwin
Mike Irwin retired as a Captain with the Illinois State Police. Mike was Chief of Police for the West Frankfort Police Department in Illinois from 2016-2019. Mike is a Use of Force expert witness in Federal and State court. He is a nationally recognized expert in MCATI, crowd control, undercover narcotics training and physical skills.
Matthew Greely
Detective Matthew Greely is a veteran Police Officer with the Providence, RI Police Department with over 15 years of dedicated law enforcement experience.
Matt currently serves as the lead firearms instructor and armorer for the Providence, RI Police Department. He is a member of the S.W.A.T team and serves as the team’s medic. Matt has trained thousands of officers in firearms and less lethal munitions. He is also a member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Detective Greely earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Anna Maria College.
Course Objectives
Course Overview:
This certification program provides a comprehensive framework for understanding, teaching, supervising, and investigating law enforcement use of force. It is designed for:
• Use-of-Force Instructors: to build legally sound lesson plans and provide effective training methods
• Supervisors/Investigators: to evaluate, review, and document force incidents
• Policy Makers: to align agency use-of-force/response-to-resistance policies with constitutional standards, case law, and best practices
The course integrates law, liability, training methodology, operational decision-making, officer mindset, and leadership into one cohesive training program. It also addresses contemporary issues including de-escalation, restraint deaths, neck restraints, and weapon confusion.
An optional LLRMI Use of Force Instructor/Analyst Certification may be earned by completing a written assignment reviewed by the instructor team. Participants are encouraged to bring their agency’s use-of-force policies and lesson plans for peer and instructor discussion.
Course Objectives
« Understand Legal Standards
♦ Interpret Supreme Court and appellate rulings (e.g., Graham v. Connor, Tennessee v. Garner)
♦ Apply constitutional decision-making to force incidents
♦ Recognize civil and criminal liability risks in force encounters
« Develop and Deliver Training
♦ Create lesson plans covering legal, tactical, and operational aspects of force
♦ Teach force application methods and decision-making (“when to” vs. “how to”)
♦ Address learning variability and adapt training methods to ensure proficiency
« Investigate and Review Force Incidents
♦ Conduct force reviews, including documentation, evidence collection, and analysis
♦ Assess officer decision-making, policy compliance, and legal exposure
♦ Handle cases involving dueling experts and conflicting research
« Address Contemporary Force Issues
♦ Evaluate restraint-related deaths and positional asphyxia
♦ Examine neck restraints and other high-liability tactics
♦ Integrate de-escalation practices into training and operations
« Build Officer Mindset and Leadership
♦ Foster preparedness and confidence in decision-making
♦ Overcome hesitation in appropriate force applications
♦ Strengthen officer safety, public safety, and subject safety through training and leadership culture
Certification and Re-Certification
THE USE OF FORCE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
« 5-Day Training Course: Required attendance covering Use of Force core content
« Written Examination: Multiple-choice test covering material from the course
« Essay Requirement: 500-word essay on an Use of Force subject chosen from a provided list
RE-CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT
To maintain status of your Use of Force Certification, graduates must:
« Attend one Use of Force training program within the 2-year certification period
« Complete one Use of Force Certification Course before certification expiration
USE OF FORCE CERTIFICATION CREDENTIALS
« Certificate of Completion (for the 5-Day Use of Force Certification Training Course)
« Certification Credential Card (with name and certification dates)
« Formal Certification Certificate (designating Use of Force Certified status)
« Legal Update Bulletins (electronic distribution to keep skills current)
• Use-of-Force Instructors: to build legally sound lesson plans and provide effective training methods
• Supervisors/Investigators: to evaluate, review, and document force incidents
• Policy Makers: to align agency use-of-force/response-to-resistance policies with constitutional standards, case law, and best practices
The course integrates law, liability, training methodology, operational decision-making, officer mindset, and leadership into one cohesive training program. It also addresses contemporary issues including de-escalation, restraint deaths, neck restraints, and weapon confusion.
An optional LLRMI Use of Force Instructor/Analyst Certification may be earned by completing a written assignment reviewed by the instructor team. Participants are encouraged to bring their agency’s use-of-force policies and lesson plans for peer and instructor discussion.
Course Objectives
« Understand Legal Standards
♦ Interpret Supreme Court and appellate rulings (e.g., Graham v. Connor, Tennessee v. Garner)
♦ Apply constitutional decision-making to force incidents
♦ Recognize civil and criminal liability risks in force encounters
« Develop and Deliver Training
♦ Create lesson plans covering legal, tactical, and operational aspects of force
♦ Teach force application methods and decision-making (“when to” vs. “how to”)
♦ Address learning variability and adapt training methods to ensure proficiency
« Investigate and Review Force Incidents
♦ Conduct force reviews, including documentation, evidence collection, and analysis
♦ Assess officer decision-making, policy compliance, and legal exposure
♦ Handle cases involving dueling experts and conflicting research
« Address Contemporary Force Issues
♦ Evaluate restraint-related deaths and positional asphyxia
♦ Examine neck restraints and other high-liability tactics
♦ Integrate de-escalation practices into training and operations
« Build Officer Mindset and Leadership
♦ Foster preparedness and confidence in decision-making
♦ Overcome hesitation in appropriate force applications
♦ Strengthen officer safety, public safety, and subject safety through training and leadership culture
Certification and Re-Certification
THE USE OF FORCE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
« 5-Day Training Course: Required attendance covering Use of Force core content
« Written Examination: Multiple-choice test covering material from the course
« Essay Requirement: 500-word essay on an Use of Force subject chosen from a provided list
RE-CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT
To maintain status of your Use of Force Certification, graduates must:
« Attend one Use of Force training program within the 2-year certification period
« Complete one Use of Force Certification Course before certification expiration
USE OF FORCE CERTIFICATION CREDENTIALS
« Certificate of Completion (for the 5-Day Use of Force Certification Training Course)
« Certification Credential Card (with name and certification dates)
« Formal Certification Certificate (designating Use of Force Certified status)
« Legal Update Bulletins (electronic distribution to keep skills current)