Police & Minority Relations

Police Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter, All Lives Matter. Those phrases have become outcries for police officers, community members, and mainstream media.  In reality, tensions between law enforcement and minorities have been brewing for decades.  Now more than ever, police officers must learn to balance aggressive crime fighting strategies with an understanding that their actions may be perceived as racial profiling, civil rights violations, criminal offenses, or as mistreatment of citizens in the communities they are sworn to protect and serve.

Across the United States, police commanders and community leaders have engaged in numerous meetings to help heal and strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and minorities.  Although these efforts have made positive gains, it is the front line patrol officer & supervisor who are at the greatest risk of a hostile encounter.

This one day course will help officers identify & understand the problem, communicate more effectively with minorities, ensure compliance with federal & state laws, prepare for hostile encounters, and continue to engage in proactive policing without jeopardizing their safety.

The instructor is a veteran of one of the largest police departments in the United States.  He spent several years working in an undercover capacity, targeting the most violent gang members and drug dealers in the community he served.  During those years, he learned invaluable information regarding not only the criminal views of law enforcement, but law abiding citizens’ views of their local police departments as well.  Sharing this unique experience with patrol officers & supervisors will put them in a better position to improve relationships in their communities.

This course is not designed to create an atmosphere of passive or reactive policing.  When that approach is taken, the criminals win and wreak havoc in the community.  In addition, it creates a more dangerous environment for police officers.  This course will focus on bridging the gap between law enforcement and minorities, while maintaining smart, aggressive strategies to deal with those that choose to violate the law.

Topics Covered:

• Identifying & Understanding the Problem
• Overview of Movements/Protests
• Preparation for Hostile Encounters
• Tactical De-escalation Techniques (Overview)
• Understanding DOJ Consent Decree
• Racial Profiling
• Communicating More Effectively with Minorities
• Building Community Trust
• True Officer Safety Consideration
• DOJ Principles for Promoting Police Integrityhearltna