Law Enforcement Leaders Push for Reforms in How Police Use Physical Force

A group of law enforcement leaders is calling on police departments nationwide to reform their approach to using physical force in light of escalating fatalities during civilian encounters.
The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) issued an extensive report on Tuesday, advocating immediate changes in training, procedures and the treatment of individuals in crisis.
The initiative follows an investigation spearheaded by the Associated Press, revealing over 1,000 deaths over a decade tied to restraint methods meant to subdue individuals without fatal intent, notably including the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
In the wake of these findings, the PERF has introduced new guidelines aimed at curtailing preventable deaths and injuries by refining how and when officers use force. The research forum’s recommendations, which will be applied to all incidents officers handle, include better coordination with medical responders, de-escalation tactics and adherence to long-standing safety warnings.
“Every police chief, sheriff, trainer, officer, and any other person involved in these incidents should take the time to read these principles and put them to use,” the recommendations said. “They can save lives.”
The Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington, D.C.-based organization led by law enforcement chiefs and administrators, has previously crafted policy guidelines on using tasers and body cameras at the Justice Department’s request.
Though primarily focused on large city police departments, PERF’s recommendations influence training and policy in agencies across the country. Their work has also played a role in shaping court rulings and federal investigations.
In addition, Tuesday’s PERF report shifts attention to those in medical, mental health, or drug-related crises—cases that have often led to fatal outcomes. It urges officers to view such individuals as patients rather than suspects and emphasizes the critical need to adjust tactics accordingly.
“These people are not suspects. They are patients,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, whose department has been at the forefront of calls for reform following Floyd’s 2020 death. “This is not just about making it safer for a patient. It’s about increasing safety for everyone.”
O’Hara announced plans to implement the guidelines immediately.
Newsweek reached out to the Police Executive Research Forum via email for comment.
Meanwhile, the report comes as Black Americans remain disproportionately affected by these encounters, according to the AP’s analysis. The investigation found that officers either weren’t properly trained or failed to adhere to long-standing guidelines on safe restraint techniques.
This led the research forum to act as the group convened about 20 experts in June to start hashing out recommendations following the AP-led investigation.
The PERF report highlights the risks posed by improper physical holds, particularly the prone position, in which a person is restrained face down. Though warnings against the tactic have circulated since the 1990s, dozens of deaths have occurred due to officers not repositioning detainees once handcuffed. In several instances, victims’ cries of “I can’t breathe” were ignored.
“Rolling individuals onto their side as soon as possible can be a life-saving measure,” the report stresses. It also advises having at least one officer monitoring the individual’s health during restraint to avoid further harm.
“In these situations, police need to know what they can do,” said Chuck Wexler, the research forum’s executive director. “Because if it doesn’t go right, the police are going to be held accountable.”
The recommendations are set to be integrated into training programs and sent to police departments across the country on Saturday, according to Wexler. While some states have already adopted measures restricting dangerous restraints, efforts at broader reform—like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act—have stalled at the federal level.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.