Areas of Practice

Use of Force

 

Perhaps the most important and controversial contemporary issue in America is the use of force by law enforcement officers. Mr. Congleton is a qualified expert in this subject, with an extensive background including certifications as a firearms instructor, defensive tactics instructor, hostage and crisis negotiator, de-escalation instructor, Force Science Institute force analyst, and more. Further, he brings a unique perspective combining his formal legal education and training with nearly two decades of experience during which he has personally been involved in several use of force incidents and critical incidents as well as multiple combat deployments.

Policy & Procedure

 

Written policies and procedures provide law enforcement officers in all agencies with a framework within which they can operate on a day to day basis. When evaluating their actions, we often look first to the relevant policies and procedures that are in place at their agency for a guiding light. Mr. Congleton has extensive experience in analyzing and creating policies and procedures, particularly in the area of use of force and the subsequent internal review of use of force incidents within the context of the law as well as state and departmental policies. Whether you are looking to create policies, or you are involved in litigation where policies may be at issue, Mr. Congleton can help.

Training

 

Mr. Congleton has been a law enforcement trainer/instructor, in a variety of subject areas, for over 10 years. He has trained thousands of officers from federal agents to local officers and recruits, and everything in between. He has also helped to create and implement innovative training programs for his agency, his county’s academy, and for private companies. He is well versed in best practices as well as relevant case law pertaining to law enforcement training. His research work in the area of police training reform, submitted for the completion of the Rutgers Certified Public Manager Program, was submitted for the American Academy of CPMs’ Askew Award in 2021.

Training is an often overlooked subject when litigating matters involving police (mis)conduct, and one that could make all the difference in your case.