Understanding Fair & Impartial Policing & LEADS L.E. Active De-Escalation Strategies

Green Bay Police Department

Fair & Impartial Policing: 

Instructional Goals:  The goal of this instruction is to make officers aware of the risks and negative consequences of bias policing and to encourage officers to be aware of individual bias and make a concerted effort to ensure that such bias does not affect the manner in which they perform their duties.  The officer will also enhance/promote trust on the part of the people they serve and enhance the legitimacy of the police.

Instructional Objectives:

1. Discuss bias in law enforcement
2. Recognize our own and biases – realize they are not all bad
3. Understand how implicit biases can affect perceptions and behavior.
4. Understand how biased policing impacts community members and the department.
5. Understand how FIP supports procedural justice and thus police legitimacy.
6. Develop skills and tactics to reduce the influence of bias on police practice.
7. Enhance/promote trust on part of people that they serve
8. Most importantly, make sure that officers are better prepared to go home safe at the end of their shift

Part Two:

 Law Enforcement Active Diffusion Strategies – LEADS:

Instructional Goals: This communications portion of the day of training is for street confrontations that will assist to de-escalate engagements, reduce complaints and liability, and enhance officer survival.  This instruction is classroom-based combat-confrontation avoidance.  Based upon the L.O.C.K.U.P.® Police Combat system, it teaches within a classroom setting how to recognize aggression and to not stimulate aggression.  Students learn Active Diffusion Strategies that can avoid or resolve interactions by employing effective de-escalation methods. The course also adds distraction techniques that promote successful tactical applications. The course also discusses tactical responses when diffusion tactics are inappropriate or ineffective. Instruction uses lectures and demonstrations.  No special equipment is required.

Instructional Objectives:

• Identifying indications of hostility through body language
• Learn and understand the value of customer service in law enforcement
• Learn how to avoid communications that may be negative and make positive
• Identify professional benefits of respect
• Learn methods of effective verbal de-escalation strategies
• Understanding physiological changes during aggression
• Learn to use cognitive limitations for active diffusion
• Learn methods to re-direct the thought process through positive direction
• Learn the importance of emotional intelligence in law enforcement
• Communications and response to Special Populations
  • ( example – mental illness, autism, and other disabilities)
• Identity different communications styles with appropriate response tactics
• Learn methods of motivational interviewing skills
• Learn methods of distraction to obtain tactical advantages
• Learn communication and physical strategies to de-escalate situations
• Learn how active strategies blend with a total law enforcement presentation
• Learn contact – cover principals and concepts