Use of Voice not Force | Fred Jones | TEDxEustis

Summary

The speaker addresses the inevitability of using force in law enforcement, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence training for officers. He recounts his own experiences and highlights how understanding and managing emotions can improve interactions between law enforcement and the community. The training encourages officers to empathize and make better decisions, ultimately aiming to reduce the need for force and enhance public trust. The speaker advocates for the widespread adoption of such training to foster more professional and humane policing practices.

Takeaways

• 🚓 Law enforcement often requires the use of force to ensure compliance from unwilling subjects.
• 🛑 A society without the need for law enforcement to use force is unrealistic due to the presence of non-compliant and violent individuals.
• 🤔 The key to reducing the use of force lies in enhancing decision-making and empathy among officers through self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
• 📚 Emotional intelligence training helps officers understand and manage their emotions and those of others, leading to better outcomes in community interactions.
• 💡 The Right Training program emphasizes racial intelligence by combining emotional and social intelligence, promoting inclusive and empathetic behavior.
• 📉 Officers often carry emotional baggage from personal and professional stress, which can impact their performance and interactions.
• 🚨 Training in emotional intelligence can help officers process and manage their emotions, reducing instances of excessive force and misconduct.
• 👮‍♂️ Personal anecdotes highlight the impact of law enforcement interactions and the importance of empathy and emotional understanding.
• 💔 Emotional intelligence training benefits officers by improving their mental health and enhancing community relations.
• 🏆 Implementing emotional intelligence training in law enforcement agencies shows a commitment to the well-being of officers and fosters professionalism.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video transcript?

The main topic discussed is the use of force in law enforcement and how emotional intelligence training can help officers become better decision-makers and improve interactions with the community.

Why does the speaker believe that a society without the use of force by law enforcement is unrealistic?

The speaker believes it's unrealistic because there will always be individuals who refuse to comply with laws and may even resort to violence to avoid custody, as well as those who harm others for malicious reasons.

What is the 'right training' that the speaker refers to, and what does it entail?

The 'right training' refers to Racial Intelligence Training and Engagement (RITE), which combines emotional intelligence and social intelligence to help officers understand their own emotions and those of the people they interact with.

How does emotional intelligence training benefit law enforcement officers, according to the speaker?

It helps officers recognize and manage their own emotions, empathize with the community, and make better decisions, ultimately leading to better outcomes and less use of force.

What personal story does the speaker share to illustrate the impact of law enforcement interactions?

The speaker shares a story from when he was 17 and was mistakenly detained by police officers who thought he fit the description of a burglary suspect, which led to years of distrust towards law enforcement.

What analogy does the speaker use to describe ignoring emotional issues, and how is it relevant to law enforcement?

The speaker compares ignoring emotional issues to turning up the radio to drown out a knocking sound in a car engine. This is relevant to law enforcement because officers often ignore their own emotional struggles, which can affect their performance and interactions with the community.

How does the speaker suggest officers can stay emotionally balanced during their duties?

The speaker suggests using visual aids, such as photos of family and happy memories, and engaging in activities like listening to music that help them stay at the top of the 'emotional ladder' where positive emotions reside.

What statistics does the speaker provide about the mental health of law enforcement officers?

The speaker mentions that in 2017, 46 law enforcement officers were fatally shot in the line of duty, while 140 committed suicide, highlighting the mental health crisis within the profession.

What feedback has the speaker received from deputies and the community about emotional intelligence training?

The speaker has received positive feedback from deputies who found the training beneficial and from community members who noted the professionalism of the officers.

What does the speaker believe is the ultimate benefit of emotional intelligence training for law enforcement agencies?

The speaker believes it shows officers that their well-being is valued, helps them stay aware of their emotional state, and ultimately enables them to use their voice instead of force during interactions with the community.

Outlines

00:00

💡 The Inevitability of Law Enforcement's Use of Force

The speaker discusses the necessity of using force in law enforcement, explaining that it's unavoidable because some individuals will always resist compliance, sometimes violently. Despite the desire for a society where force isn't needed, the existence of non-compliant and malicious individuals makes it necessary.

05:01

🧠 Emotional and Social Intelligence in Policing

The speaker reflects on his journey in law enforcement, emphasizing the importance of emotional and social intelligence in training. He highlights the significance of understanding oneself to improve interactions with the community and introduces the concept of racial intelligence, which combines emotional and social intelligence.

10:02

🎼 Tools to Manage Emotional States

The speaker shares strategies for maintaining emotional well-being, such as using positive visuals and engaging in uplifting activities like listening to music. He explains the concept of the 'emotional ladder,' where emotions range from positive at the top to negative at the bottom, and emphasizes the importance of staying emotionally balanced.

15:03

🚔 The Impact of Emotional Baggage on Law Enforcement

The speaker recounts a personal experience with law enforcement that left a lasting impact on him. He underscores how personal and professional stress can affect officers' behavior and decision-making, advocating for emotional intelligence training to help officers manage their emotions and improve community interactions.

Keywords

💡Use of force

Use of force refers to the amount of physical coercion used by law enforcement to compel compliance from an unwilling subject. In the context of the video, it emphasizes the necessity and inevitability of force in certain law enforcement scenarios, but also the potential for reducing its usage through better decision-making and emotional intelligence.

💡Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence involves understanding and managing one's own emotions as well as recognizing and influencing the emotions of others. The video highlights its importance for law enforcement officers to improve interactions with the community, reduce confrontations, and handle stress from the job effectively.

💡Racial intelligence

Racial intelligence combines emotional intelligence and social intelligence to address biases and improve racial understanding and interactions. The video explains how this training helps officers better empathize with people from different backgrounds and make more informed and compassionate decisions.

💡Law enforcement

Law enforcement refers to the system of police and other entities responsible for maintaining public order and enforcing the law. The video discusses the challenges and emotional burdens faced by law enforcement officers and proposes strategies like emotional intelligence training to improve their effectiveness and well-being.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. In the video, empathy is presented as a crucial skill for officers, helping them to relate to the individuals they encounter, potentially de-escalating situations and fostering better community relations.

💡Emotional ladder

The emotional ladder is a conceptual tool used in training that visualizes emotions as rungs on a ladder, with positive emotions at the top and negative emotions at the bottom. The video describes how officers can use this tool to stay aware of their emotional state and take actions to move towards positive emotions, improving their interactions and decision-making.

💡Burnout

Burnout refers to physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress. The video addresses how emotional intelligence training can help officers recognize and manage burnout, which is common in high-stress professions like law enforcement.

💡Emotional baggage

Emotional baggage refers to unresolved emotional issues from the past that affect one's present behavior. The video discusses how law enforcement officers carry emotional baggage from personal and professional experiences, and how recognizing and addressing these emotions is vital for their well-being and effectiveness.

💡Community relations

Community relations pertain to the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. The video suggests that improving emotional and racial intelligence in officers can lead to more positive and less confrontational interactions, enhancing trust and cooperation with the community.

💡Officer misconduct

Officer misconduct involves inappropriate or illegal actions taken by law enforcement officers. The video implies that many instances of misconduct may be influenced by poor emotional management and stresses the importance of emotional intelligence training to mitigate these behaviors.

Highlights

The necessity of force in law enforcement arises from the presence of individuals who refuse to comply with societal laws.

Imagining a society where law enforcement can use less force and avoid confrontations during encounters.

Understanding ourselves can make officers better decision-makers and empathetic towards the community.

Personal story of joining law enforcement in 1997 and the impact of human diversity training.

The significance of racial intelligence training which combines emotional and social intelligence.

Explanation of the 'emotional ladder' and how officers can manage their emotions.

Importance of positive visual aids, like family photos, to help officers stay emotionally balanced.

Music as a tool for emotional regulation after a stressful day.

Identifying and addressing emotional 'knocking sounds' in officers to prevent burnout.

Personal experience of a wrongful police encounter as a teenager and its lasting impact.

Training in emotional intelligence could improve officer empathy and interaction with citizens.

The impact of personal stressors on officers' performance during high-stress calls.

Addressing emotional baggage is crucial to prevent excessive use of force and misconduct.

The role of emotional intelligence in preventing officer suicides and promoting mental health.

Emotional intelligence training shows officers that they are valued as individuals, not just as employees.

Transcripts

[Applause]

[Music]

registration well I put your speed use

of force what is it in terms of law

enforcement it is the amount of force

used to compel an unwilling subject to

comply what if we could live in a

society where law enforcement did not

have to use force doesn't that sound

great it's never going to happen and

I'll tell you why it's never going to

happen

it's never going to happen because there

will always be those that will not

comply with the laws of society and they

would do anything not to be taken into

custody even killing those pursuing them

and then there are those that will hurt

and torture others for no other reason

but to watch them suffer those are the

evil ones and yes they do exist but

let's set those scenarios aside there's

Wallis and others what if we could live

in a society where law enforcement

agencies across the nation can have

their officer use less force on any

given day and what if we could live in a

society where a simple encounter between

a law enforcement officer and a citizen

doesn't become a confrontation you know

like the ones we've seen on television

so how do we change the narrative the

philosopher Socrates he put it best when

he said know thyself is the beginning of

wisdom so I'm going to talk about how

nor now R selves can make officers

better decision-makers and I'm going to

talk about how understanding our own

weaknesses and our own struggles can

help us empathize with those that we

make contact with in a community so

let's get started so how did I get here

was in 1997 I joined the law enforcement

community and at the end of the Academy

we had to take a human diversity class

or I used to call it a how to treat

people that don't look like you class so

in my class you know we had white folks

and we had black folks and we had

Hispanic folks and and we talked about

stereotypes and well why can't you say

that I can't say that anything and there

was a lot of tension but we survived it

we learn from it and moving forward I

continue to take those classes and I did

benefit but I always felt like there was

an element missing in 2016 a supervisor

approached me and said he wanted me to

take another human diversity class and

I'm thinking to myself 97 98 99 I'm

probably the most our first person I

know but he promised me that this one

was different

and so I went and he was right this one

was different because it was inclusive

it wasn't just about how to treat them

but how to treat ourselves it was called

the right training racial intelligence

training and engagement and it dealt

with emotional intelligence plus social

intelligence equals racial intelligence

in essence looking at our own emotions

first understanding where we are at all

times emotionally plus have an

understanding of those that we make

contact in the community when equal to

equal to better outcomes and that's what

we all want and so

we did this training the officers were

engaged and we talked about things like

you know what to do what to do when when

you're headed to that call of a horrific

child of his case a child neglect and

and he talked about the emotions that

you go through to when you your head to

that next call that's the tragic suicide

you know and one of the the things that

really stood out in this training to me

was one about the emotional ladder it

utilizes a picture of a ladder and on

each rung of a ladder there's an emotion

at the very top of the ladder we have

emotions such as happiness and joy and

gratitude as you make your way down to

the bottom we have emotions such as hate

anger anxiety fear at the top is where

we want to stay at the bottom is where

some of us live even us the law

enforcement so we did some training we

talked about what to do when you find

yourself at the bottom of the ladder we

use visuals how many of you have cell

phones all of us so what's on your cell

phone see we talked about helping

pictures that will bring us back to the

top of that ladder and for me I have a

picture of my beautiful family plus my

dogs I have a picture of our great

vacation experiences and I have a pitch

of my pension because that keeps me on

the top of the ladder

but we also talked about doing things

that take us from the bottom in and

keeps us up here toward the top and for

me it's music now when I have a very

frustrating day at work I leave the

office and walking down the sidewalk and

I don't care who's around me I think of

music cuz I love music so I'm thinking

one of my favorite artists don't be

great and there's some drift away and

I'll just kind of go right to the verse

that I love when my mind is free he no

melody can move me when I'm feeling blue

get sauce coming through to soothe me

see y'all go to church right some of you

nod your head but that's what it does

for me it gives me back to where I am

and I understand where I'm where I'm at

at all times you know so what are we

talking about as far as understanding

our emotions identifying where we at at

all times

imagine your best friend calls you in

the middle of the night they say they're

broken down they need you to come get

them and so being a good friend you are

you call out of bed you get dressed you

jump in your car and you're driving down

the road to pick your friend up a couple

miles down the road you hear this

knocking sound in the engine you know

you know something's wrong and it's not

the first time you've heard it so what

do you do you probably do what you

always do you turn up the radio you

drown it out and you keep driving you

know there are those of us in law

enforcement we have that same kind of

knocking sound going on inside of us but

it's an emotional one you know be it

through burnout from the job is there

some kind of family illness that we're

going through and what do we do we turn

up the volume of life and we drown it

out we ignore it and agencies across the

nation they tell their officers to take

your vehicles there person

and I want you to go out there and I

want you to help those who are broken

down now imagine there's these agencies

they would see thousands of calls of

service it could be a novel one call

simple hang up call or it can be a

homicide and everything in between

armed robbery sexual battery and they

send them out there to try and fix those

things but they have to start with

themselves and that's where emotion

comes in comes in it teaches us how to

identify our emotions and you know when

I'm speaking with my deputies about this

they love the training they thought it

was the one of the greatest things

they've experienced and so we talked

about what happens when we make contact

with an individual that can help

short-term and long-term effects on our

community for example that if you would

travel back in time with me I am a 17

year old on the cross-country team it is

a beautiful Saturday morning and I'm out

for an 8 mile run and about mallow

sticks I see all these police cars

converge in front of me they jump out

they ask me where I'm coming from I said

I'm on an 8 mile run I I'm at mile six

right now so you're saying that you

wasn't over there or late it was just

broken into no sir it wasn't me well

Allah you fit you fit the description of

the suspect so they placed me in the

back of a patrol car they took me back

to the scene they took me out of the

patrol car they went upstairs to the

house and they escorted an elderly lady

out to the yard and asked her is that

the guy that broke into your house and I

remember her

Squiggy and I'm thinking to myself I'm

about to go to jail something I didn't

do

but she said no it wasn't him and so it

plays me back in the patrol car they

took me back to where they met me at

they dropped me off they didn't say

anything they they took off to find the

culprit and I remember being angry and

being confused now I remember running

those last two miles with tears

streaming down my face and for the next

11 years or so before I got to law

enforcement every time I would see an

officer coming my way I will go the

other way because they took me back to

that 17 year old and then when I did

become a law enforcement officer I

realized that they were just doing their

job but I also know it's not just what

you do it's how you do it what if these

officers have been trained in the

emotional intelligence could they have

utilized some empathy maybe walked in my

shoes could they have even apologized

for the misunderstanding that could have

had a different impact on me than had

now fast forward to today imagine an

officer he said it to a violent domestic

violence call lights and sirens this

officer is going through a divorce his

teenage son was just expelled from

school he just recently filed for

bankruptcy what do you think he would be

on that ladder could it affect him when

he Rob's it

Rod's at the scene could it affect him

on a traffic stop you know we carry a

lot of emotional baggage and we must

learn how to process it when we hear

about these instances of excessive use

of force officer misconduct it is easy

to drive the narrative of race now I

know it's something you're going to say

well oh you know of course you're an

officer sergeant Jones

you're gonna take you're gonna take up

for your officers you know I've been in

law enforcement for about 21 years but

I've been black for 50 years and in both

cases by some I've been painted with

that broad brush of you people and

nobody likes it so why don't we work on

getting to the root of the problem that

I don't know what happened in each of

those instances that you may see on

television but what I do know is a

seasoned law enforcement officer and as

a supervisor in Internal Affairs that a

light of emotional intelligence plays a

role in officers behavior we are not

robots

this emotional intelligence training

isn't just about how we treat other

people it's about how we treat ourselves

and we are not robots

people may think south they're doing our

jobs with just machines but underneath

these badges there are humans and a lot

of times there are humans that are

crying out for help

in 2017 USA Today released the report

and it brought to the light that 46 law

enforcement officers were fatally shot

in the line of duty 140 committed

suicide

you know I'm I'm proud of the men and

women that I work with every day I'm

proud of this profession I'm even

prouder of the leadership that brought

emotional intelligence training to us I

think we're better agency because of it

I received positive feedback from our

deputies and I get calls from the

community about how professional our

officers are and I think every agency

should train their officers and

emotional intelligence training I think

it serves multiple purposes for one as

the agency here's your opportunity to

show your officer that I care about you

more than just as an officer but also as

a person and it allows that officer to

be aware and stay aware of where they

are emotionally at all times especially

when they make contact with the

community and last but not least it

gives an officer a great opportunity to

use their voice instead of force

you