De-Escalation Training Center

Under the guidance of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) De-Escalation Center serves law enforcement agencies in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana by providing Department of Justice (DOJ)-certified training that will advance contemporary de-escalation practices. This training is provided at NO COST to law enforcement agencies throughout the region we serve.

De-escalation is “Taking action or communicating verbally or non-verbally during a potential force encounter in an attempt to stabilize the situation and reduce the immediacy of the threat so that more time, options, and resources can be called upon to resolve the situation without the use of force or with a reduction in the force necessary” - International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2017, p.2

Courses Available

    At the De-Escalation Training Center (DTC), we partner with COPS Office certified trainers from around the country, to deliver high quality training at NO COST to you. For a list of approved training vendors, to learn more about the program, or to schedule a training at your agency, please contact the DTC to coordinate training. Our team will walk you through the different training options, coordinate with the training vendor that you select, and partner with you to ensure that you receive excellent training.

Course Length

Courses range in length from 1-3 days.

Course Hours

Participants may receive between 8-16 hours of TCOLE credit, depending on course length.

Course Cost / Fee Policy

All courses available from the De-Escalation Training Center are currently offered at NO COST to law enforcement officers, through partnerships with the DOJ COPS Office..

Registration Process

Registration is 100% online. Please visit the Register Online link located on the Upcoming Events table below or the LEMIT Calendar page to register. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address indicated on the form within one week of registration.

Cancellation / No-Show Policy

Registered participants who are unable to attend may submit a request for a substitution attendee no later than 7 days prior to event date. All attendance information will be reported to sponsoring agency. Lack of attendance by registered participants in COPS sponsored trainings may disqualify agencies from future COPS trainings.

Course Contact

Garreth Tiefenbach, Director of the De-Escalation Training Center
Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas
George J. Beto Criminal Justice Building
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX 77341-2417
Phone: (936) 294-3485
gnt005@shsu.edu

Dress for the Week:
Business casual is the dress for the week. Clothing should be professional, and no caps/hats or shorts are permitted. It is always recommended to bring a light jacket in case the training room is cold.

Firearms:
If you choose to wear your duty weapon you may do so in full uniform or in plain clothes with your badge fully displayed. Individuals who are 21 years of age and who currently possess a handgun license from the State of Texas or an approved reciprocating state may legally carry a concealed handgun on or about their person. Handguns may be carried on campus, except at collegiate and UIL athletic events, health and counseling centers, and other specified locations on campus. Signs will clearly identify prohibited sites around campus.

Tobacco Products:
In order to promote a healthy, safe, and aesthetically pleasing work and educational environment, Sam Houston State University endorses a smoke free and tobacco free environment. Tobacco use (including smokeless tobacco) is not permitted on campus grounds. Electronic cigarettes/vaping products are also prohibited.

LEMIT Building and Parking:

The Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas is located at 1600 Bobby K. Marks Dr., Huntsville, Texas, at the corner of Bobby K. Marks and Bearkat Boulevard on the campus of Sam Houston State University. It also is located right next door to the University Hotel.

  • ALL vehicles must be registered to park on the SHSU campus. This includes marked agency vehicles.
  • Prior to your class, you will receive information on how to register your vehicle and where to park.
  • For visitors and guests, there are pay-by-hour spaces along Bobby K. Marks Street and Bearkat Boulevard; however, these are managed through the City of Huntsville system and are not part of the University permits. Follow instructions listed on street signs for payment options and be sure to select "Huntsville" when asked to select a location. For more information on the City of Huntsville system, visit Huntsville Paid Parking.
  • Parking is also available for visitors in the Sam Houston Parking Garage, located at 1730 Avenue I, within walking distance to LEMIT. The parking garage contains approximately 250 hourly use parking spaces. Visitors should not park in the parking spaces that are numbered; the numbered spaces are reserved for Garage Permit Holders only. For directions to the SHSU Parking Garage, please click here.