KIMBALL -- Officers from the Kimball Police Department sharpened their skills Wednesday in their monthly Defensive Tactics Training. 

This month’s Defensive Tactics Training focused on wrestling and wrestling takedowns. 

“The more we can control somebody, the less we have to increase our level of force,” said Chief of Police Jose Ruiz. “Less lethal weapons can fail at times and if you don’t have a means of taking care of yourself or the public when those fail, you can find yourself in a tough situation.” 

Just a few of the defensive tactics they practice include joint manipulation, wrestling, and jujitsu. 

“We do have less lethal tools, but those are a supplement to our physical tools, not the other way around,” Ruiz said.  

He adds that the importance of officers maintaining their physical skills allows them to stay controlled when they’re in an uncontrolled environment. 

Having certified instructors on staff ensures that the officers are equipped with the techniques needed to keep themselves and the public safe. 

“If we see any issues with use of force, we can immediately remedy that by looking at body cam footage to see where the deficiencies are and address it right away since we have an in-house instructor,” Ruiz said.