(Credit: Buckingham Township PD)
In addition to the voluntary control tactics program that Buckingham Township Police hold monthly, its officers are also required to complete annual control tactics training mandated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, according to a news release.
This training focuses on the arrest and control techniques utilized in the performance of officers’ duties.
This year, the department took a new approach and, for the first time, partnered with Kindle Hill Foundation to conduct its training outside of the department, police said in a news release.
(Credit: Buckingham Township PD)
(Credit: Buckingham Township PD)Kindle Hill Foundation has built a defensive tactic training facility on their property, which provided police with a unique opportunity to integrate mental wellness, equine-assisted training, and team-building exercises into its control tactics curriculum, according to the release.
Click here to learn more about the Kindle Hill Foundation and the training it offers.
“The equine training component allowed our officers to strengthen their de-escalation, negotiation, communication, and teamwork skills — key elements that directly support safer and more effective policing,” police said in a statement. “This training was well received by the officers and as a bonus, they are now fully prepared to handle the situation when the occasional "horse on the loose" call comes in from some of our local property owners.”
