Where Perception, Safety and Science Converge

Police brutality commonly refers to the unwarranted excessive use of force by law enforcement officers leading to the injury or death of citizens. This issue has understandably gained widespread attention and scrutiny in recent years. Numerous egregious incidents of police brutality including the horrendous, unjustified deaths of George Floyd and Tyre Nichols were captured on video and shared on social media. While some argue that police brutality is necessary to maintain law and order to control crime, evidence suggests that such a draconian, heavy-handed approach only worsens the problem.

Eric Gay/The Associated Press

First and foremost, police brutality undermines public trust in law enforcement. This is particularly true for communities of color who have a long history of being targeted by police. When citizens see police officers using excessive force, they are less likely to cooperate with law enforcement and more likely to view the police as an oppressive force. This lack of trust makes it harder for law enforcement to solve crimes and maintain public safety, as witnesses are less likely to come forward with information.

Furthermore, police brutality can escalate situations and lead to more violence. For example, if a police officer responds to a situation with excessive force, this can inflame the situation and lead to more violence. In some cases, this can result in the death of both the suspect and the police officer. When police brutality becomes part of a cycle of violence, it makes it more difficult to resolve conflicts and maintain public safety.

Statistics support the idea that police brutality only makes crime worse. In cities with a history of police brutality, crime rates tend to be higher and concomitantly, and trust in law enforcement is lower. A study of police brutality in Baltimore found that incidents of police brutality were correlated with increased rates of violent crime. A parallel study found that communities with a history of police brutality have higher rates of homicide and other violent crimes.

While it is essential to recognize the dangers inherent in policing, it is also important to acknowledge that police brutality exacerbates the human rights problem while rendering policing less effective. When police officers use excessive force, they not only undermine public trust, but also escalate situations and make it more difficult to solve crimes and maintain public safety.

Enter De-escalation Communication

It is true that policing can be dangerous, and that law enforcement officers face significant risks on a daily basis. As emphasized, excessive use of force by law enforcement officers is a serious problem spirals situations out of control. By necessity, there is growing recognition of the importance of non-injurious defensive tactics training coupled with the role that behavioral psychology can play in de-escalating volatile situations.

One critical components of defensive tactics training is de-escalation techniques. These techniques involve using communication and negotiation skills to calm a situation and avoid using force. For example, law enforcement officers might be trained to use active and reflective listening techniques to understand a suspect’s perspective and use empathy to defuse a tense situation.

Real Science — Real Results

In addition to de-escalation techniques, law enforcement officers can also benefit from training in behavioral psychology. This training can help officers understand the underlying reasons for an individual's behavior and provide the officer with best-practices tools to de-escalate the situation. For example, officers might be taught about the effects of trauma on behavior and specific signs of mental illness.

These non-lethal training techniques aRe effective in reducing the use of force by law enforcement officers to improve public safety. For example, a study by the Seattle Police Department found that officers who received training in de-escalation and behavioral psychology were less likely to use force and more likely to resolve situations peacefully.

In addition to improving public safety, non-injurious defensive tactics training also has benefits for law enforcement officers themselves. When officers are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to de-escalate situations and avoid using excessive force let alone any force at all, everyone is less likely to be placed in harm's way.

Proper non-injurious and non-lethal training and behavioral psychology can play a critical role in reducing police brutality to improve public safety and promote positive policing.. By providing law enforcement officers with the skills and knowledge they need to de-escalate volatile situations, we can help to reduce the use of force and create a safer, more just society for all. #KMFAorg