De-Escalation Techniques in Potentially Violent Police-Citizen Encounters: A Field Study of Expert Police Officers

• In Event: Issues with Police Tactics and Techniques

Abstract

American police face a crisis of legitimacy, stimulated by the public’s perception that they too often use illegitimate force, especially against minority citizens. To address this issue, many have suggested police training programs should emphasize de-escalation tactics directed towards finding solutions to difficult citizen encounters without using physical force. However, research on de-escalation in police work is scant. Accordingly, the current study examines de-escalation techniques in police work, focusing especially within the context of potentially violent police-citizen encounters. The research examines 1) the role of de-escalation in police work, 2) how officers conceptualize this strategy, and 3) how it is performed on the job. More generally, the research examines 4) the potential for de-escalation to enhance police legitimacy. Through her position as an embedded researcher in the Spokane (Washington) Police Department, the author conducted qualitative fieldwork with seven expert police de-escalators over a one-year period, seeking to understand de-escalation through the eyes of officers who use this strategy in their everyday work activities. The broader goal is to explore the extent to which police agencies can achieve improved community partnerships and enhanced legitimacy through proper implementation of de-escalation training and policy development.

Author

• Natalie Todak, Arizona State University