WALLKILL, N.Y. -- The town of Wallkill Police Department is adopting new training in an effort to reduce officers' use of force when responding to certain situations.
Chief Robert Hertman says the first group of town of Wallkill officers, sergeants and detectives have already completed the training.
Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics, or 'I-CAT,' de-escalation training is part of a nationwide program recommended by the President's Task Force on 21st century policing.
Chief Hertman hopes the new training gives officers the tools to deal with disturbed or dangerous suspects who don't have a firearm.
"What we're trying to instill with this program is to show the officers that it may be better many times to de-escalate the situation, try to engage the person in conversation in hopes that they'll gain voluntary compliance," Hertman said.
Hertman says the new training recommendations were the result of lengthy discussions between law enforcement, activists and community leaders.