The Truth About De-Escalation: A Desired Outcome, Not A Technique with John Bostain
Episode #54 | 8 June 2023
This year, the topics of de-escalation training, preventative measures, and institutional reconstruction are highly relevant in the world of law enforcement. There is no magical “de-escalation pixie dust” that can be sprinkled on individuals in crisis to calm them down. De-escalation is a desired outcome; it is a result. It is not a specific technique or tactic. De-escalation cannot be measured solely on whether an officer did or did not use force. There are times when the application of reasonable force is the only way to “de-escalate” a situation.
On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National President Patrick Yoes sits down with John Bostain. John is the President of Command Presence Training. He has committed the last 26 years to law enforcement, 24 of which have been as a trainer. He has trained more than 25,000 law enforcement professionals at the state, local, federal, and international levels and is a frequent speaker at national law enforcement conferences. He is also the recipient of the 2021 ILEETA Trainer of the Year award. John shares his experience as an award-winning law enforcement trainer, investigator, and detective.
About John Bostain
John Bostain is the President of Command Presence, LLC. John has committed the last 23 years to law enforcement, 20 of which have been as a law enforcement trainer. He has presented nationally and internationally on contemporary law enforcement topics such as dynamics of officer/citizen encounters, use of force, human performance factors, and instructor development. He’s certified as a Force Analyst by the Force Science Institute (FSI) and holds a B.S.Ed in Adult Education from Valdosta State University.
John began his career with the Hampton Police Division (HPD) in Hampton, Virginia where he served as a Uniformed Patrol Officer, Narcotics Investigator, Academy Instructor, Detective, and Patrol Supervisor. He served on the departmental S.W.A.T. Team, Bike Patrol Unit, and was the Advisor for the Law Enforcement Exploring Program. He held Virginia DCJS certifications as a firearms instructor, defensive tactics instructor, and driving instructor, in addition to several other instructor certifications.
After leaving HPD in 2001, John spent 13 years at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA serving as an Instructor and Senior Instructor for Defensive Tactics, Patrol Procedures, and Use of Force. He also held position as a Program Specialist in the Rural Policing Institute, Training Transformation Office, and Training Management.
In 2012, he became the recipient of the prestigious Trainer of the Year Award as selected by Law Officer Magazine. John is an Instructor Trainer (Core Instructor) for the Below 100 Program and is a member of the instructional staff of the BJA VALOR for Blue program. John is also an Advisory Board Member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainer’s Association (ILEETA)
Law enforcement officers have one of the toughest and most dangerous jobs in the United States. The brave men and women of law enforcement are charged with the enormous responsibility of keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe.
Be sure to tune in to Blue View, a weekly podcast presented by the National Fraternal Order of Police, to hear from law enforcement experts, elected officials, and other notable leaders to gain insight into the issues and current events surrounding the law enforcement community. Each episode will leave you with a better understanding of what law enforcement officers face daily. Together, we can rebuild the trust between police officers and the communities they serve.
