Lt. Kevin Dillon (Ret), LOCKUP Police Combat

11/10/2026

Use of Force: Leadership, Decision Making and Review
Skowhegan Police Department
Oct. 22-23,2026

We are proud to announce that 100% of participating officers rated our recent Use of Force: Leadership, Decision Making and Review program at the highest evaluation level — 5, OUTSTANDING!

The course brought together law enforcement professionals committed to strengthening their understanding of constitutional use-of-force standards, officer decision-making, human performance under stress, supervisory responsibilities, and effective use-of-force reviews.

WHAT DID THE OFFICERS HAVE TO SAY?
⭐ "Amazing class. Would go to it again and recommend it to all law enforcement officers."
⭐ "Excellent and relatable content and delivery. Critical information for any agency."
⭐ "He is one of the best in my 22 years of service."
⭐ "He has made me rethink the way of reviewing and tracking use of force incidents."

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM — REAL-WORLD APPLICATION
Perhaps the most rewarding feedback came from officers identifying specific improvements they intend to implement within their agencies, including:
Strengthening use-of-force reporting and documentation.

Improving supervisory reviews and accountability.

Integrating human-performance principles into force assessments.

Enhancing defensive tactics and scenario-based training.

Reexamining agency training programs and operational practices.

One participant even described plans for a complete overhaul of their agency's use-of-force reporting process.

Our goal is not simply to deliver training. It is to provide law enforcement professionals with the knowledge, analytical skills, and practical tools to improve decision-making, strengthen accountability, and enhance organizational performance.

A sincere thank you to the hosting agency and Dep. Chief Scott Christiansen, for his outstanding support and dedication to hosting this class.
Train. Evaluate. Improve. Repeat.

.Kevin Dillon



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10/26/2026

Student Evaluation Summary
L.E.A.D.S. Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies Instructor Training
CT Court Support Services - Division of Probation - CT
Sept. 21 - 23, 2026

Student Evaluation Summary
Student evaluations reflected a highly positive response to the L.E.A.D.S.® Instructor Training Program, with participants consistently emphasizing the relevance, practical application, and instructional value of the training.

Selected Student Comments
"This training is essential and integral for officer safety and should be required for all staff."
"I loved everything about this course. I look forward to teaching the entire lesson plan, especially how to redirect someone's thought process."
"This program has prepared me to regulate myself during stressful situations."
"The discourse analysis was new to me since my last recertification, but it really tied everything together and emphasized how important documentation is."
"The material knowledge and experience truly are valuable to adult probation. All officers should take this course."

Participants particularly appreciated the instructors' ability to connect behavioral science, communication strategies, and de-escalation principles to realistic situations encountered in their daily professional responsibilities. The integration of real-world experiences, video analysis, and practical scenarios was frequently identified as a strength of the program.

Several recurring themes emerged from the evaluations:
• Practical Application: Participants emphasized that the strategies and techniques could be immediately applied to daily interactions, particularly in managing challenging behaviors and preventing situations from escalating.

• Emotional Regulation and Self-Awareness: Students identified increased awareness of their own emotional responses and the importance of maintaining self-regulation during stressful encounters.

• Communication and De-escalation: Participants highlighted the value of redirecting an individual's thought process, recognizing behavioral cues, and applying effective communication strategies to reduce conflict.

• Instructional Effectiveness: Evaluations consistently praised the instructors' knowledge, experience, engaging presentation style, and ability to communicate complex concepts in an understandable and relatable manner.

• Evidence-Informed Training and Documentation: Participants recognized the value of updated instructional content, particularly discourse analysis and its connection to communication, decision-making, and accurate documentation.

• Instructor Development: Students appreciated the integration of adult learning principles and the opportunity to transfer newly acquired knowledge and skills to fellow officers.

Overall Evaluation
The evaluations demonstrate strong participant satisfaction and a consistent perception that the L.E.A.D.S.® program provides relevant, practical, and transferable strategies for professional communication, emotional regulation, conflict management, and de-escalation.

10/21/2026

https://lnkd.in/p/guAQXJ3x

Why Attend? The DLG Use of Force Summit is celebrating its 15th year and returning to Mohegan Sun, December 1–3, 2026. For a decade and a half, this conference has brought together over 900 police leaders, trainers, corrections professionals, and legal staff from across the country to work through...

10/20/2026

Another successful L.O.C.K.U.P.® Arrest & Control Instructor Training Program at the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy!

Student evaluations reflected exceptional appreciation for the program's comprehensive, science-based approach to arrest and control training.

Participants particularly valued the step-by-step instructional methodology, which breaks complex physical techniques into manageable components to support comprehension, skill acquisition, and retention.

Students also emphasized the importance of understanding not only how techniques are performed, but why they are applied, including the underlying principles of human performance, decision-making, legal considerations, and use-of-force reporting.

STUDENT EVALUATION HIGHLIGHTS

“One of the best programs brought to the CMPA. Instructor was knowledgeable and engaging.”
— CMPA Instructor, 24 Years

“Some of the best instructor training I have ever taken part of. I have been instructing for around 15 years and this is the most comprehensive training ever.”
— Police Sergeant, 20 Years

“Not only did we learn the maneuvers and how to teach them, but also learned about the purpose and thought behind their creation. This class was incredible to say the least.”
— St. Louis Park Ranger, 4 Years

“Having the science behind every move and the reason for doing so helps tremendously.”
— Corrections Sergeant, 9 Years

“The LOCKUP program is the perfect example of de-escalation combined with officer readiness.”
— Law Enforcement Investigator, 12 Years

Training should go beyond teaching techniques. It should develop instructors who understand the science, legal foundations, instructional methodology, and measurable performance standards necessary to prepare officers for real-world encounters.

Congratulations to all our newly certified instructors, and thank you to the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy for its continued commitment to professional law enforcement training!

L.O.C.K.U.P.® Police Training Systems
Science-Based. Legally Grounded. Performance-Driven.

10/18/2026

Triple Instruct Certification Training
Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy
SOLD OUT
Oct. 19 - 23, 2026

10/07/2026

It was both a pleasure and an honor to once again present our L.E.A.D.S.® – Law Enforcement Active De-escalation Strategies Instructor Training, September 9–11, 2026, at the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy.

The training was extremely well received by the attendees, who demonstrated a high level of enthusiasm, dedication, and professionalism throughout the three-day program. A review of the course evaluations reflected an overwhelming level of satisfaction with the training, its practical application, and the instructional content.

Please assess the quality of this presentation.

This class was very informative. It equipped me to bring more knowledge and tools when training or involved in a de-escalation process. Berkeley PD 12 Years

Excellent course with useful and practical applications. Useful with self evaluation Makes one think. Des Peres Public Safety – 28 Years

Very good real-world examples to make the topics relatable. The teaching at the end of the class also helped reinforce learning the material. St. Louis Park Ranger

I love that it teaches how the brain works and how to redirect a negative situation and not just phrases to blurt out in certain situations. Law Enforcement - 6 Years

Great Training. Gives tools on how to possibly resolve situations without force. Also describes techniques on how to lessen emotions and activate cognitive thinking in crisis situations. This training demonstrates scenarios that police deal with regularly. Patrol 8 years

Excellent course! New outlook when dealing with people in crisis. Police Sergeant - 37years.

This was a fantastic course. The instructor was incredibly knowledgeable in presenting the material in a way that was engaging and easy to understand. I've been in a lot of training courses that were death by PowerPoint and the information was gone almost as fast it was taken in. This was not that. I will come back as often as my department will let me take courses with K.D. Police Officer – 3 years

Phenomenal, exceptional training. By far one of the best de escalation training. We need more of it for the VA Police. I will be attending everything LOCKUP has to offer. KD is the best instructor I have seen. Training Officer 22 years of experience

Very informative with great information. Training Officer 39 years

I think the course is extremely useful. Being able to identify de-escalation techniques is invaluable in our profession. The best part is going in depth with the brain and why people respond the way they do. Understanding that greatly benefits me in understanding responses more and how I can deal with an individual more effectively. I also thought that reviewing the power and choice of words is critical to all aspects of our job, to include talking to people, report writing and even court. Police officer of 13 years

Great information, well explained, engaging. Lieutenant Dillon was great and his knowledge of the topic was impressive. 20 years +

09/25/2026

L.O.C.K.U.P. Arrest and Control Instructor
Oakland Police Academy
Auburn Hills Michigan

Congratulations to the L.O.C.K.U.P. Instructors that impressively completed the mentally and physically challenging 5 day L.O.C.K.U.P. Arrest and Control Instructor Training.

What the team had to say!
“This class was great and the best class I have taken. Thank you for giving us us the tools and training to keep us safe.

KD, you kept me involved and focused. Your examples definitely pull you in and keep you wanting more.”

“Kevin is extremely well versed in his material, has a strong presence while presenting, and always has an answer for the ‘what if’ questions.”

“As always, a solid class. Great presenter of material. Very knowledgeable with the subject matter. 10 out of 10.”

“It was an honor being taught by such an experienced instructor—truly an inspiration. I cannot thank you and your staff enough. Amazing course.”

“Great program. Tough enough that only people who really want to teach it will finish.”

“Exceptional job at putting the ‘why’ behind the training.”
“Great, clear learning, broken down in the best way to retain everything learned.”

“Instructor Kevin Dillon did an outstanding job teaching L.O.C.K.U.P.® This is one of the best classes I have been to.”

“One of the best classes and instructors I've had in 20 years of law enforcement.” See less

09/15/2026

Criminal Justice Academy of Osceola
Osceola Technical College
501 Simpson Road, Kissimmee Fl. 34744
Hosting
L.O.C.K.U.P. Arrest and Control Instructor Training
Oct 5 – 9, 2026

The internationally recognized, award-winning L.O.C.K.U.P.® Police Arrest and Control Instructor Course is an intensive five-day program designed to prepare law enforcement and corrections professionals to effectively instruct arrest and control tactics. Participants develop a strong foundation in practical empty-hand control techniques, combined with proven, instructor-development methodologies grounded in adult learning principles.
Upon successful completion, participants are certified as L.O.C.K.U.P.® Arrest and Control Instructors. The L.O.C.K.U.P.® System is purpose-built to ensure the safe, swift, and effective control of resistant subjects and is FBI National Academy award-winning, field- and court-tested, legally defensible, measurable, and retainable under stress.

COURSE TOPICS
Legal Aspects of Use of Force
Discuss the true science v myths on use of force
Effective Takedowns for Immediate Control
Equip Trainers to Learn Effective Instructional Methodologies
Team Subject Control Tactics – Coordinated subject control
Team Communications and Takedowns
Police Ground Control Techniques (Non-Sport Based)
Grounded Control Tactics Tailored for Real-world Law Enforcement
Environmental Training in Various Operational Settings and Energy Management
Striking for Law Enforcement and Counter Measures
Understanding Psychophysiological Changes that Occur During Human Aggression
Report Writing, Documentation, and Tracking
Verbal Communication and De-escalation Skills – Integrated L.E.A.D.S.
REGISTER
www.LockupPoliceTraining.com

09/09/2026

Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy
Hosting SOLD OUT!
L.O.C.K.U.P. ® Police System
Arrest and Control Instructor Course
Sept. 14 - 18, 2026 0830-1630

09/09/2026

VIRTUAL - L.E.A.D.S. Law Enforcement Active De-Escalation Strategies

Online Certification Program: September 14, 2026

https://dlglearningcenter.com/leads-law-enforcement.../
Unlike many contemporary de-escalation programs, L.E.A.D.S.™ has been field-tested and refined through nearly two decades of real-world application by street officers, deputies, corrections personnel, and trainers nationwide—from Honolulu to Alaska. The program emphasizes practical, measurable, and operationally sound communication and decision-making strategies designed for the realities of today’s public safety environment.

Through a dynamic mix of lectures and demonstrations, students will learn to:

Recognize and manage aggressive behaviors before they escalate.

Employ positive communication and proven de-escalation techniques.

Anger management and confrontation avoidance strategies.

Emotional modulation when responding to highly emotional incidents.

Discuss tactical responses when diffusion is ineffective or inappropriate.

The “Switch” Moment – In high-conflict encounters, there is often a distinct moment when the subject’s behavior shifts from verbal resistance to active aggression. Recognizing this switch is a critical skill.

Cognitive Lock – Officers can get “stuck” in a single tactic under stress, repeating the same ineffective commands instead of transitioning to a new approach.

Articulation Matters – In litigation or review, you will not be judged solely on the fact you used force, but on whether you can clearly articulate why verbal tactics were no longer appropriate.

Officers effectively de-escalate on a daily basis, however there is no evidence to validate. Officer learn to document, quantify and measure evidence to show patterns of success.

Integrated Training – Strategies on how verbal, physical, and tactical options must be trained together, so the transition between them is seamless.