Jiu Jitsu training for Rensselaer City Police Department

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Police departments across the country are exploring non-lethal forms of policing.  Here in the Capital Region, the Rensselaer City Police Department is signing up for a new form of training — Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the Lion's Den Martial Arts in East Greenbush.

"There are numerous benefits to providing this type of training to our officers,” said Rensselaer City Police Chief Warren Famiglietti.

He said it is his job to give his officers the best tools he can provide. “This gives my officers an opportunity to come out and train and get more proficient at whatever they want. And we have fun as part of this,” he said.

Lion’s Den owner Thomas Svingala explains some of the non-lethal tactics the officers will learn. “They're going to use the escalatory tactics. So, some of it's going to be language, some of it's going to be hands-on techniques that they're going to learn. It might be disarming individuals. It's going to be a wide variety of those things,” explained the martial arts expert.

The Lion’s Den has a Certified Effective Fitness Combatives Instructor, tailoring the martial arts training to specifically help police officers. “It’s a special program. It's probably the leading program for law enforcement in the country right now. It's built by officers,” said Svingala.

Chief Famiglietti says the program will ultimately save money for the city. 

“There are dramatic reductions in workers compensation claims. There are reductions in liability claims to the city for use of force and injuries due to use of force. The reduction in officer injuries, drastic reductions in the amount of tasers deployed during use of force situations because of the officer’s ability to control suspects more proficiently,” he explained.

Mayor Mike Stammel says this is the right move for the police force. 

“In my mind, it'll make them healthier, as well, in the long run. Whenever you can have a healthy workforce and safe workforce, I think you're doing all the right things,” said the mayor.