We have seen too many cases of alleged police brutality: police pepper spraying residents, beating residents so badly that they soil themselves and the list of infractions goes on. But this story isn't about such a case nor is it about bashing the police - it's actually about highlighting a group of police officers who are trying to find a more practical and less violent way of dealing with and arresting offenders. Courtney Weatherburne found out more about a self-defense training for cops.
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
The choke hold: it's a martial arts technique - known as a submission hold. It is used to subdue your opponent by making them unconscious.
A team from a Texas Christian Church is here to teach these cops how they can use the choke hold technique in their police work.
Kenric Logan, Project Manager, Word at Work Ministries
"When you look the policeman especially in our conditions they don't have the right equipment sometimes, they are always being accused of wrong doing. We want to give these guys skills that when they go out they can use a skill to conquer an opponent someone that is breaking the law."
Now it may not seem like a good idea for a police officer to choke someone out, especially when dealing with let's say an aggressive gang member or a violent civilian. But really, the choke hold is the most humane approach in defusing a highly pressurized or intense situation.
Klay Pittman, 6th Degree Black Belt, Brazilian Ju Jitsu
"The goal here is to teach those in authority that if someone becomes more aggressive, if they are dealing with someone who is bigger, stronger, more aggressive, more athletic than they are, how can they handle that and still maintain calm and rational within their own personhood, and not over-react or under-react to the situation that merits. This way they are able to give themselves and the law great respect but at the same time do their very best to give the other person the utmost respect and handle the situation in a wise way."
And really it is advice that everyone can use in any heated confrontation.
It is a 3 day training. Tomorrow is the last day.
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