# 708 21st Century Policing: Pillar Five - Training and Education and Pillar Six - Officer Wellness and Safety This Training Key discusses Pillars Five and Six of the final report developed by the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. In May of 2015, the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing concluded by producing its final report to the public. 1 The report outlines specific recommendations and corresponding action items for law enforcement agencies, government entities, and organizations. The Task Force on 21st Century Policing report has major implications for law enforcement leaders at all levels, from recruits to chief executives. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has committed to assisting agency leaders in operationalizing these recommendations and providing concrete ways in which officers can bring the concepts of policing in the 21st century to life in a positive and effective way. The IACP will continue to build on the task force report and other resources currently available in order to provide specific guidance to law enforcement agencies. This Training Key will focus on the final two pillars of the task force report: Training and Education and Officer Wellness and Safety. Each section of the Training Key contains themes and recommendations from each pillar with an explanation of what they mean for law enforcement, as well as supporting information and resources. For an overview of the task force and its final report, see Training Key #705. Pillar Five: Training and Education Law enforcement officers face a variety of situations that require complex solutions and thoughtful responses. In order for officers to respond appropriately, they require comprehensive training and education. The task force report highlights the need for specialized training and education in a number of areas including the following: Procedural justice Community policing Problem solving and situational decision making Communication skills Bias awareness Crisis intervention Victim services Mental health issues 2 These topics represent just a few of the many areas in which officers at all levels must be proficient. The task force report also stresses the role of training and education throughout the entire career cycle of an officer. This spans from initial training as a new recruit, through in-service training and promotional testing, all the way up to executive leadership positions. Agencies and officers should also recognize the difference between training and education and the importance of both when implementing the task force recommendations. Training is and will always be necessary as law enforcement officers learn to utilize equipment and tactics. Education provides background and understanding of underlying concepts and theories. Education and training can support each other as officers learn why certain topics are important, how they are impacted by cultural and historical contexts, and then learn techniques for operating in these situations and environments. Training Key published and copyrighted 2015, by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Inc., 44 Canal Center Plaza Ste 200, Alexandria, VA 22314. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any system or transmitted in any form or by any means electrical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or other means without prior written permission of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Inc.
Role of Community Members Law enforcement agencies should engage community members in the training process. 3 As a part of the community, law enforcement agencies can and should recognize the many other resources available. Every community likely has members and organizations with unique expertise that could assist agencies in developing training in new areas or expanding training in existing areas. Involving the community also breaks down barriers and increases transparency, allowing those who may not have much knowledge of law enforcement officers and their role to see what they do, why they do it, and how they are trained to keep communities safe. There are numerous ways to involve the community in the training process. One way that many agencies already work to involve community members is through citizen academies. According to the National Citizens Police Academy Association, The objective of the Citizen Police Academy is not to train an individual to be a Reserve Police Officer but to produce informed citizens. The Citizens and Police Officers meet each other face to face in a neutral, friendly setting and each becomes a person to the other. 4 Another way agencies can work to involve the community is to seek input from individuals during the planning and evaluation process and even through the delivery of training. Community members with subject matter expertise can add value to components such as responding to individuals with special needs or providing historical background to enhance understanding of procedural justice and community-police relations issues. Leadership Law enforcement agencies should provide leadership training to all personnel throughout their careers. 5 One specific topic area applicable to all officers is leadership. The IACP s Leadership in Police Organizations training program is based on the concept that every officer is a leader. In the 21st century, police organizations can no longer rely on an individual or small group of leaders. To develop leaders, law enforcement executives must create a culture in their organizations that is supportive of dispersed leadership. This means establishing expectations that all officers will take leadership initiatives at their levels of responsibility. 6 Extensive and continuous leadership training can assist officers in dealing with change and incorporating many of the task force themes and recommendations into the deeper agency culture. Leadership training may incorporate several components including: Individual differences Leadership and followership Motivations Group development and cohesion Conflict management Interpersonal communication Organizational culture Understanding these and other related concepts can assist officers at all levels in developing skills that are necessary to perform their duties, regardless of their specific position. POST Recommendations The task force report provided several recommendation and action items specifically directed at commissions of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POSTs). While these may be intended for POSTs, law enforcement agencies and officers should understand the issues that exist, how both agencies and the officer are impacted, and what training and education they utilize to prepare for certain situations. POSTs should make Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) a part of both basic recruit and in-service officer training. 7 As law enforcement first responders are increasingly called to deal with individuals experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis, crisis intervention training (CIT) has become necessary. CIT has been shown to improve police ability to recognize symptoms of a mental health crisis, enhance their confidence in addressing such an emergency, and reduce inaccurate beliefs about mental illness. 8 This type of training brings together not only law enforcement personnel, but also individuals from the fields of medicine, mental health, and social services. This collaborative, community-involved approach helps officers develop the skills and attributes needed to address crisis situations. Components of crisis intervention training include the following: De-escalation techniques Empathy training Identifying community resources The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) highlights law enforcement as a key partner in crisis intervention. NAMI also points out that CIT must acknowledge training and education before an incident, response to a situation, and the post-event support for individuals involved including responding officers. 9 The role of mental health and resiliency for law enforcement officers will be further discussed in the wellness and safety section of this Training Key. POSTs should ensure that basic officer training includes lessons to improve social interaction as well as tactical skills. 10 Social interaction and tactical skills are both important aspects of a law enforcement officer s day-to-day tasks. There are several aspects of communication that should be considered and that can help increase the likelihood than an interaction will be positive. 2
Know the audience Keep language simple and clear Use words to build, not divide Be aware of nonverbal cues 11 Beyond basic communication skills, social interaction among law enforcement and community members can be enhanced by recognizing other related topics. Topics such as critical thinking, social intelligence, implicit bias, fair and impartial policing, historical trauma, and other topics that address capacity to build trust and legitimacy in diverse communities 12 can and do enhance an officer s ability to engage with those they serve. Tactical and operational training will cover a wide range of topics, such as equipment use and use of force. While tactical and operational training are vitally important during the recruit phase, ongoing in-service training should not be overlooked. Officers should be continuously updated on training and education on all aspects of their jobs. POSTs should ensure that basic recruit and in-service officer training include curriculum on the disease of addiction. 13 Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death. 14 Addiction is serious and can be something that individuals and communities deal with on a daily basis. As officers work to engage with community members more often, they will get to know those within their community. They may also come across individuals in crisis or on the verge of crisis. With training and education, officers can recognize signs and symptoms of addiction. This will allow officers to work with community partners to engage in early intervention and help break the cycle of drug abuse, arrest, and continued involvement with the criminal justice system. POSTs should ensure both basic recruit and in-service training incorporates [Sic] content around recognizing and confronting implicit bias and cultural responsiveness. 15 As they work to engage the community more effectively, it is necessary that officers understand the concepts of implicit bias and cultural responsiveness and are provided training on how to effectively deal with these issues. While training cannot easily undo the implicit associations that took a lifetime to develop, the social psychologists have shown that, with information and motivation, people can implement controlled (unbiased) behavioral responses that override automatic (bias-promoting) associations. 16 Agencies can involve the community in this training process by enlisting advocacy groups that can help provide diverse perspectives. Training and education can be supplemented by encouraging non-enforcement activities where officers will gain a broader community perspective by engaging with individuals in new ways. POSTs should require both basic recruit and in-service training on policing in a democratic society. 17 Officers in the United States take an oath to uphold the laws of their jurisdiction and that of the country. All officers must operate within constitutional guidelines. In addition, policing in a democratic society requires officers to understand the history of the society and how the culture and environment has evolved to where it is today. All of these components can and should be incorporated in to both recruit and in-service training as officers move through their careers. Pillar Six: Officer Wellness and Safety Officer wellness and safety has been and continues to be a top priority of the IACP. Officer wellness and safety covers a number of topics including mental health and resiliency, physical fitness and nutrition, and tactical and traffic safety. These topic areas are inextricably intertwined and therefore should all be addressed through education, training, and continued reinforcement through overall agency culture. Wellness and safety are also incredibly important as they have a direct impact on the community. If officers are not able to perform their duties because of safety or wellness issues, then the community will also suffer. This was highlighted in the task force report, noting, An officer whose capabilities, judgment, and behavior are adversely affected by poor physical or psychological health not only may be of little use to the community he or she serves but also may be a danger to the community and to other officers. 18 This is why officer wellness and safety is so important to all aspects of policing. Culture of Wellness and Safety Law enforcement agencies should promote safety and wellness at every level of the organization. 19 Officer wellness and safety is not something that can be incorporated into recruit training and never again addressed. Wellness and safety permeates a number of issues within law enforcement and must be addressed continually from recruitment through retirement. In order for that to happen, it must be included in policies, practices, training, education, and overall organizational culture. Physical fitness and nutrition play a key role in both the wellness and the safety of an officer. The IACP developed two nutrition resources to assist officers in improving their physical well-being. Recommendations include the following: 3
Lead by Example: Consciously limit the number of times officers go out to eat while on shift. Know Meal Options: Provide guidance to officers as to when restaurants and grocery stores are open both during the day and during overnight shifts. Utilize Lunch Breaks: Encourage officers to take a break and leave their cars to eat when possible to establish an eating routine and reap the benefits of physical activity. Carry Healthy Snack Options and Water: Inevitably, there are times when breaks and meal routines will be disrupted, so having healthy food on hand is vitally important. Link Fitness with Nutrition: Organize a pre-shift group run among officers ending with a healthy group breakfast to promote camaraderie. 20 The IACP has also created a doctor s checklist to assist officers and their physicians during appointments. The checklist highlights issues that may be unique to law enforcement officers and encourages them to discuss certain topics with their physician. 21 Together these and other resources can assist officers in creating healthier lifestyles. In order to look holistically at wellness and safety it is necessary to also look at officer injuries. Understanding the nature of injuries will assist officers and agencies in prevention efforts. Examining how and why officers are getting injured can open up conversations about physical readiness and mental resiliency, as well as how current policies and practices may encourage or discourage safe operations. Agencies and officers should be encouraged to examine how and why they currently operate a certain way to determine if all their practices are in accordance with a culture focused on wellness and safety. Officers are called to deal with a number of traumatic experiences. Routine and accumulated stress can also take its toll on the mental well-being of an officer. The 2013 IACP National Symposium on Law Enforcement Officer Suicide and Mental Health noted that a stigma has been attached to mental health issues, which often results in officers not seeking the treatment or support they need. The concluding summit report highlighted four cornerstones necessary to adequately address suicide and mental health issues in law enforcement. These four cornerstones follow: Culture change Early warning and prevention protocols Training Event response protocols 22 Removing the stigma associated with mental health issues will require effort on the part of law enforcement leaders at all levels. Learning will not just happen in formal training environments. Providing spaces for officers to debrief after critical incidents and to learn from one another can be incredibly valuable. Encouraging officers to talk to one another and to mental health and other medical providers is also valuable in increasing the value of wellness and safety in an organization. All of these issues should be considered by officers and executives alike and all those within the agency should work together to incorporate wellness and safety into the agency culture. Support for wellness and safety should permeate all practices and be expressed through changes in procedures, requirements, attitudes, and behaviors. 23 It is also important that law enforcement agencies to not attempt to tackle these issues on their own. Partnerships with community members and organizations such as religious leaders, medical professionals, and mental health experts can provide great value to any programs put in place by an agency. Education and Equipment Every law enforcement officer should be provided with individual tactical first aid kits and training as well as anti-ballistic vests. 24 As first responders, law enforcement officers may encounter situations where they are called on to provide basic first aid or trauma care. These calls may range from violent offenses to natural disasters and require officers to provide care to community members, colleagues, or even themselves. Therefore it is necessary for officers to have basic knowledge of tactical first aid. This training can include being able to assess and manage a scene with individuals requiring medical intervention, understanding the concepts of trauma, and knowing how to perform basic interventions. As with any aspect of training and education, officers must also have access to the tools and equipment they need to perform these function. Tactical first aid kits may include a variety of items and may differ based on a jurisdiction s particular needs and environment. In addition, kits may be labeled on a numerical scale, with different supplies supporting escalating situations. For example, a level one kit, might be small and allow an officer to carry it on his or her person. A level two kit might allow an officer to deal with a more severe situation or an instance where there are multiple victims. A level three kit might contain supplies that require a higher level of tactical care training. Training Keys #667, #668, and #669 provide more in-depth information on tactical first aid for law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies should adopt policies that require officers to wear seat belts and bullet-proof vests and provide training to raise awareness of the consequences of failure to do so. 25 According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, in 2015, slightly more than 21 percent of law enforcement line of duty deaths were attributed to automobile accidents. 26 Motor vehicle crashes are also a leading cause of death in the United States. 27 Agencies should not only explore and institute mandatory wear policies for seat belts, but also provide information to educate offi- 4
cers on why seat belt wear is so important. Seat belt use reduces the likelihood of serious crash-related injuries or deaths by about half. Therefore, it is imperative that officers wear their seat belts at all times. Body armor or bulletproof vests are another type of life-saving equipment available to law enforcement officers. The IACP and DuPont Kevlar Survivors Club works to increase the prevalence of body armor wear among law enforcement officers by recognizing and honoring those saved by their vests. In addition, the IACP created the Are You Ready for Duty poster, which highlights several aspects of wellness and safety that officers should be aware of as they prepare for duty. 28 One of the issues highlighted on the Are You Ready for Duty poster is not only vest wear, but vest fit. It is important for officers to understand how fit impacts the reliability of the vest. Officers should be provided with body armor that fits them properly and instructed on how to appropriately put on and secure the equipment. 29 The IACP supports mandatory wear policies for both seat belts and body armor. One of the recommendations outlined in the 2015 Resolution is that law enforcement executives work with officers at all levels to develop strategies to increase use of body armor and seat belts, including selecting body armor that can be adapted to meet officer s specific needs, providing training on seat belt usage, and implementing education campaigns. 30 Conclusion The President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing Report contains a number of recommendations on the broad spectrum of topics that affect law enforcement today. These recommendations have dramatic implications for agencies, leaders, and communities. This is why the IACP and other organizations are working hard to support agencies and officers as they grow and adapt in this new environment. More specific guidance for understanding and operationalizing the task force recommendations can be found in the following Training Keys. Training Key #705 Overview Training Key #706 Pillar One - Building Trust and Legitimacy and Pillar Two - Policy and Oversight Training Key #707 Pillar Three - Technology and Social Media and Pillar Four - Community Policing and Crime Reduction Acknowledgment This Training Key was developed by Rebecca M. Stickley as part of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Institute for Community-Police Relations. Endnotes 1 the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, May 2015). 2 Ibid., 51. 3 the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 54. 4 National Citizens Police Academy Association, http://www.nationalcpaa.org. 5 the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 54. 6 International Association of Chiefs of Police, Leadership in Police Organizations, www.theiacp.org/lpo. 7 the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 56. 8 Ibid., 56. 9 Law Enforcement and Mental Health. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/get-involved/law-enforcement-and- Mental-Health 10 the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 56. 11 21st Century Policing: An Overview. Training Key #705, International Association of Chiefs of Police: 2015. 12 the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 56. 13 Ibid., 57. 14 American Society of Addiction Medicine, Definition of Addiction, http://www.asam.org/for-the-public/definition-of-addiction. 15 the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 58. 16 Lorie A. Fridell and Anna T. Laszlo, Reducing Biased Policing Through Training, Community Policing Dispatch 2, no.2 (February 2009), http://cops.usdoj.gov/html/dispatch/february_2009/biased_policing.htm. 17 the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 59. 18 the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 61. 19 Ibid., 65. 20 International Association of Chiefs of Police, EATING WELL ON- THE-GO: How Agencies Can Provide Education and Support to Improve Officer Nutrition and Well-Being, http://www.theiacp.org/portals/0/documents/pdfs/roi/iacp-factsheet-hw-final_web.pdf. 21 International Association of Chiefs of Police, Health Watch: Checking in for Duty, http://www.theiacp.org/portals/0/documents/pdfs/roi/healthywatchchec klist-trifold11x9.5_web.pdf. 22 International Association of Chiefs of Police, Breaking the Silence: National Symposium on Law Enforcement Officer Suicide (Washington, D.C.: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2014), http://www.theiacp.org/portals/0/documents/pdfs/suicide_project/officer_ Suicide_Report.pdf. 23 the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 62. 24 the President s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, 66. 25 Ibid., 67. 26 Officer Down Memorial Page, Honoring Officers Killed in 2015, https://www.odmp.org/search/year/2015 27 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Injury Prevention & Control: Data & Statistics (WISQARS): Key Injury and Violence Data, http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/overview/key_data.html (accessed December 29, 2015). 28 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Are You Ready for Duty (poster) http://www.theiacp.org/portals/0/documents/pdfs/vap/iacp-poster- AreYouReady-web.pdf (accessed December 29, 2015). 29 For an example of a mandatory wear policy, please see the IACP Model Policy on Body Armor. 30 IACP Highway Safety Committee, Support for Mandatory Body Armor and Seat Belt Wear Policies, IACP Resolution adopted at the 122nd IACP Annual Conference and Exposition (Chicago, IL, October 28, 2015), http://www.theiacp.org/portals/0/documents/pdfs/resolutions/2015resolu tions.pdf. 5
questions The following questions are based on material in this Training Key. Select the one best answer for each question. 1. Tactical first aid training includes (a) being able to assess and manage a scene with individuals requiring medical intervention. (b) understanding the concepts of trauma. (c) knowing how to perform basic interventions. (d) all of the above. 2. Including the community in law enforcement officer training and education (a) should be considered only by very large agencies. (b) should be considered only by rural agencies. (c) can be done in a variety of ways and can increase transparency and build trust. (d) is not a realistic expectation in the modern policing environment. 3. Crisis intervention training (a) includes de-escalation techniques. (b) involves a number of non-law enforcement personnel. (c) contains a component of empathy training. (d) all of the above. answers 1. (d) 2. (c) 3. (d)