Just as we would never hesitate to physically jump in and help our coworkers when they are struggling with a suspect who is physically resisting arrest, we need to be equally willing – and equipped – to step in and help our coworkers when we see them sliding towards making bad decisions in a police-citizen interaction.

There is a vital need to prepare officers with the knowledge and skills to intercede and protect fellow officers from engaging in behaviors that might result in criminal liability, civil liability, or damage the reputation of the agency and the profession.  These skills go far beyond intervention after an incident has already unfolded. 

In this webinar, Chief Harry P. Dolan (Ret.) will discuss the tools of persuasion and de-escalation necessary to better equip officers to intervene before an excessive use of force or other deprivation of rights has occurred. Topics discussed will include:

• Understanding the “Verbal Contact and Cover” Principle
• Recognizing “Hot Buttons” and identifying the indicators that verbal conflict is about to lead to a potentially career-altering consequence for you or your partner
• Understanding why police professionals fall prey to the “Rope-a-Dope Syndrome”
• Recognizing the Role of “Groupthink,” “Diffusion of Responsibility,” “Bystander Effect,” and the “Power of One” as it relates to emergency situations