San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
TACTICAL COMMUNICATION TOOLS TO KEEP THE PEACE
Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg has received a lot of attention lately because of a practice that was used by the New York City Police Department when he was the mayor: stop-and-frisk. Intended to reduce crime, stop-and-frisk had an unfortunate consequence — the profiling of people of color, particularly blacks and Latinos, who were disproportionately detained. While the use of stopand-frisk has declined precipitously, the practice of profiling continues in cities across America.
Here in San Diego, an officer who participated in a 2015 study of San Diego Police Department traffic stop practices said, “I’m not going to lie. If I see somebody that’s totally out of place and there’s a reason, I’m going to stop them and ask them what they’re doing.” The study, conducted by San Diego State University, found racial disparities in officers’ decisions to initiate a traffic stop, issue a citation, and search a vehicle — although not in every year of the study or in every community.
One of the researchers astutely noted that analyses of racial and ethnic differences in the rates of contact with police (and the outcomes of those contacts) carry a risk: the tendency to oversimplify the results. Either the police are racists who purposely target people of color or there are no differences in how they treat people, despite the reported disparities. This oversimplification inevitably overlooks what’s needed: a more nuanced approach that strengthens relationships between law enforcement officers and the community members they serve, creating a path forward.
The reality is that fewer than 1 in 5 U.S. residents has face-to-face contact with law enforcement officers in a given year. This lack of familiarity can lead to misperceptions — often shaped by mass media — if an encounter takes place. And when an officer looks different from you, mistrust can be heightened, regardless of your race or ethnicity. Consider this tweet from a San Diego law enforcement officer: “I’m a white male cop and I’ve been called a white blue-eyed devil and a racist by citizens of color, just because of my skin color. I’m not a racist.”
The National Conflict Resolution Center brings together police and community members for dialogue in a structured environment and will soon introduce a tactical communication training program that builds officers’ cultural competency — of vital importance in a diverse community like ours.
More than 1,400 officers and community members have participated since the workshops began in 2015, in conjunction with Live Well San Diego and numerous local law enforcement agencies. Participants practice the skills of civil communication and deep listening, learning how to perceive conflict from the other person’s world view. They connect around the idea of shared needs: safety, respect, being heard.
Community members are often surprised by their first interaction with law enforcement in a positive or neutral setting. The sentiment, “Wow, they’re just like us,” is not uncommon when they hear about the officers’ lives, their reasons for joining the force, or how they deal with on-the-job trauma.
The officers also gain a fresh perspective. Away from traffic stops and crime fighting and in a safe space, they can listen and learn from their constituents. And they can speak with candor. The rich discussion yields valuable insights and cements a belief that the officers and community members want the same things.
In the most extreme cases, a lack of understanding and respect can lead to deadly encounters. Last month, the San Diego Police Department rolled out its own training on de-escalation techniques to comply with legislation that took effect Jan. 1. It allows the use of deadly force only when an officer’s life is in imminent danger and the situation can’t be de-escalated.
It’s likely that your hope is to avoid a police encounter altogether. But if one does occur, know that each of you bears a responsibility: to treat one another with respect. Remember that it’s a person wearing that uniform — someone who may not be all that different from you. And if you feel fearful, know that law enforcement officers experience fear, too. When we acknowledge our similarities, we can achieve the understanding that’s needed to keep the peace.
Dinkin is president of the National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC), a San Diego-based organization that is working to create innovative solutions to challenging issues, including intolerance and incivility. NCRC is nationally recognized for its conflict management and communication strategies. To learn about NCRC’S programming, visit www.ncrconline.com.