Are your police trained to de-escalate conflict and to avoid implicit bias?
By Curt Anderson May 31, 2020 3:32 pm Category: Crime (5.0 from 3 votes)
Rules of the Post
Does your police department have a potential Derek Chauvin in its ranks? Does your police department have policies and training that would allow another Derek Chauvin or prevent one? Are your police taught not to use choke holds?
Look up the police academy curriculum in your state and see if the cadets receive law enforcement implicit bias and conflict de-escalation training. Find out if the officers, especially the older veteran officers, in your police department receive similar training and refresher courses.
If your police department is lacking in any of these areas use any and all of means of communication including letters to the editor and social media to insist of changes. If your police department is already doing the right things publicly congratulate them for being part of the solution.
Ashland police Chief Tighe O'Meara expressing his
opinion at a May 31, 2020 protest in memory of George
Floyd in Ashland, Oregon
(KTVL) ASHLAND, Ore. — After recent racist events shook the nation causing ripples of tension and with the most recent protests over the killing of George Floyd--a black man at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer--some Ashland residents wanted to know what policies their local police department has in place to prevent such incidents.
Ashland police Chief Tighe O'Meara said the city's mayor, John Stromberg, forwarded him a citizen's request asking him to address how the department is prepared to avoid this type of confrontation and make sure officers are trained to avoid implicit bias based on race.
In his response, shared with News 10 he wrote, " I agree with you, these recent events are very troubling."
O'Meara said all Ashland police personnel go through implicit bias training and said he himself is an instructor and has been certified through a national program called "Fair and Impartial Policing."
"All members of the department have gone through de-escalation training as well, and I am very proud of the way the officers interact with members of the community, often facing great antagonism yet remaining professional and only using that force that is necessary," O'Meara said in a written statement.
In addition, O'Meara said all the department’s recruitment process is critical in avoiding unnecessary conflict.
"We only accept the best candidates, that not only meet the requirements, but that are deemed a good fit for our community, our department and they fit the mold of what we want an APD officer to be," he said.
He explained the process includes a thorough background investigation and a thorough psychological evaluation, performed by a licensed practitioner.
He noted under federal law, any individual who has been convicted of a domestic violence offense cannot be considered nor can a candidate that shows "any inclination toward racism."
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Does your police department have a potential Derek Chauvin in its ranks? Does your police department have policies and training that would allow another Derek Chauvin or prevent one? Are your police taught not to use choke holds? 
