Because officers have to protect their own safety as well as the safety of others, they often have limited time in which to establish a communication mode that minimizes risk of violence. Agitated individuals can often be directed away from violence by specific communication skills. Verbal de-escalation techniques are geared to “set up” those being contained so that physical control techniques are enhanced, if they become necessary. When the public is witness to successful verbal de-escalation, they better understand and respect the challenges facing officers, which contributes to future officer safety.

Successful verbal de-escalation also sets a precedent with emotionally disturbed people who are likely to have many encounters with law enforcement officers. At the next meeting, they are more likely to have an expectation that they will be talked down. Therefore, at the sight of the officers, they are often more cooperative.

Ellis Amdur’s Edgework training includes improving street diagnosis skills, dealing with aggressive and suicidal individuals, managing repetitive abusers of emergency services, and improving effectiveness when working in cooperation with child protective services and mental health professionals.

• Communication with Aggressive, Mentally Ill and Emotionally Disturbed Individuals for first response law enforcement or corrections officers (details)
• Communication with Aggressive, Mentally Ill and Emotionally Disturbed Individuals as part of the instruction team for CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) training programs (details)
• Communication with Aggressive, Mentally Ill and Emotionally Disturbed Youth for school resource and/or DARE officers (details)
• Training Concerning Domestic Violence for law enforcement personnel exclusively, or as an interdisciplinary training with prosecutors, social service personnel and/or domestic violence advocates (details)
• Advanced Scenario Training for hostage/crisis negotiation teams. Involves realistic role playing of crisis situations (details)