COLUMBUS-- What can be done to help police to better handle with potentially deadly situations?
A special committee is working to change the way officers in Ohio are trained.
The Attorney General’s Advisory Group on Law Enforcement Training will recommend changes to the way Ohio trains officers after several fatal police-involved shootings.
Those deaths include John Crawford, III in a Beavercreek Walmart, and officer involved deaths in New York and Ferguson, MO.
"We're going to look at how use of force is applied or in some cases not applied. It's one thing to talk about the appropriate or reasonable use of force, it's another to talk about excessive use of force," said Dr. Reggie Wilkinson, the Chair of the Law Enforcement Advisor Group
Thursday's focus was on the use of lethal versus non-lethal force. The committee members learned about what courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court have previously ruled when it comes to officers using deadly force.
"There are a variety of ways in which it can be discussed in both training and practical applications so it's not just a one-sided issue. We talk about communication and we talked about the training officers received," said Jessica Didion, Deputy Director Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy
Pastor Daryl Ward knows despite any recommendations the group comes up with it will take more than just police to make changes.
"If other pastors did something, if other CEO's and their communities did something, if we all did something, then change would happen," said Dr. Ward, a pastor at Omega Baptist Church in Dayton.
The group will meet again Feb. 2nd at the Columbus Police Academy. Right now, there's no timetable for them to come up with recommended changes.
Originally posted Thursday, Jan. 22nd, 2015