Police in Yellow Springs learning de-escalation techniques

YELLOW SPRINGS -- Every village police officer took part in mandatory training Wednesday focused on avoiding a repeat of the clash involving police officers and a crowd at the New Year's Eve ball drop.

Already, one of the officers involved in the altercation resigned from the department in early February. Dave Hale resigned as chief in January.

Word of the training was announced Monday night at the Village Council meeting.

Thursday morning, Interim Chief Brian Carlson said the eight-hour "de-escalation" training delivered behind closed doors -- the public was not allowed to see the session -- is an important first step in putting the holiday incident behind the department.

"We're real excited about the changes and the attitudes that i think we're going to see after this," Carlson said.

"We wanted to keep some of the things private in there. We still have other officers who are under question about things. We didn't want to make that public."

Carlson said another session is planned and it will include dispatchers as well.

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