Harnessing Local Expertise: Using Peer-Nominated Officers to Help Develop a De-Escalation Training Curriculum

• In Event: Lightning Talk: De-escalation in Policing: What We Know and Don’t Know (Organized by the Division of Policing)

Abstract

As de-escalation trainings in law enforcement begin to proliferate among departments across the country, it is important to acknowledge that these trainings are often “off the shelf,” and they do not consider the local context or the specific needs of a given department. The benefit of localization would be to gather insight from resident officers to aid in the curriculum development process and to potentially increase buy-in from the officers. As part of a grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, this presentation discusses how 14 peer-nominated top de-escalators were utilized to help develop a training curriculum to be delivered in the Tempe Police Department. The data come from ride-alongs, personal interviews, and focus groups with the peer-nominated top de-escalators. This presentation highlights the importance of utilizing local experts to help inform the training curriculum that will be delivered department-wide.

Authors

• Victor J. Mora, Arizona State University

• Michael D. White, Arizona State University

• Carlena Orosco, Arizona State University