Akron Police Department Implements New De-escalation Training to Address Critical Incidents

March 28, 2025

The Akron Police Department has launched a comprehensive new training program this month aimed at changing how officers respond to volatile situations. The program, known as Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT), focuses on providing officers with advanced skills in de-escalation and communication when dealing with individuals in crisis.

What is ICAT?

ICAT is a comprehensive training methodology developed by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) that provides officers with essential tools to safely resolve critical situations. The program integrates four key components:

1. Critical thinking – Teaching officers to assess situations more thoroughly
2. Crisis intervention – Understanding mental health and behavioral crisis factors
3. Communication skills – Developing effective verbal techniques to build rapport
4. Tactical awareness – Safe positioning and coordinated response strategies

The training specifically targets scenarios involving individuals who are unarmed or armed with weapons other than firearms, and who may be experiencing mental health crises.

Akron’s Implementation Timeline

According to Akron Police Chief Brian Harding, the rollout of ICAT training was announced in October 2024, with implementation beginning in 2025. The department is taking a systematic approach to training all 450 officers:

• Patrol officers are receiving training first
• Police cadets will undergo training over summer 2025
• The detective bureau will complete training before the end of 2025

Officers Already Seeing Benefits

“The biggest thing is it starts with empathy—trying to figure out who they are, have empathy and build a rapport or relationship,” said Sergeant Damber Subba, who participated in the training on Wednesday. Subba believes the program could be a “game-changer” for how officers handle critical incidents.

Sergeant Steve Prough, who received specialized training from ICAT instructors and now leads the program for Akron officers, emphasized the importance of creating space during tense encounters.

“A quick movement tends to take us down a road that is full of force and possibly an injury or worse,” Prough explained. “We’re always receptive to looking at new training and trying to better our practices.”

Targeting a Critical Gap

According to Lieutenant Eric Wood, approximately 40% of officer-involved shootings nationwide involve either unarmed people or those with weapons other than firearms. ICAT specifically targets these scenarios, which present significant opportunities for alternative resolutions.

The training helps officers identify “missed opportunities” in their tactical approaches that could potentially change outcomes in these critical encounters.

Part of a National Movement

The ICAT training program was developed by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a national police research organization, and has been implemented by departments across the country. The approach is specifically designed for situations involving people who are unarmed or armed with weapons other than firearms, particularly those experiencing mental health crises.

Lt. Eric Wood of the Akron Police Department noted that 40% of officer-involved shootings nationwide involve either unarmed people or those with weapons besides guns.

“That 40% is where we’re trying to find the missed opportunities inside of our tactics and what we’re doing to maybe possibly change the outcome,” Wood said.

Implementation Timeline

Chief Brian Harding announced the training initiative in October 2024, with full implementation rolling out this year. All 450 Akron police officers will receive the training, beginning with patrol officers, followed by cadets this summer, and the detective bureau before the end of 2025.

The training represents one of several initiatives by the Akron Police Department to enhance community relations and officer response capabilities.