Baltimore police taking required training on 'emotional regulation' and 'empathy'

The Baltimore Police Department recently adopted new required training material that aims to teach officers about "emotional regulation" and "empathy," the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

The new curriculum was developed by Roca Impact Institute, an organization dedicated to reducing "incarceration, poverty, and racism" by working with the community and local law enforcement agencies in Baltimore, Maryland; Hartford, Connecticut; and across Massachusetts, according to its website. The organization is committed to "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" and advancing "racial equity," it notes.

"Roca recognizes that we live in a nation that is tragically impacted by racism, structural inequities, and class issues," Roca's website explains.

Roca's eight-hour police training course, Rewire4, teaches lessons on "trauma, cognitive behavioral theory, neuroplasticity, think-feel-do cycles, and the cycle disruption skills of being present, labeling your feelings, flexing your thinking, and acting on values."

The mandatory course aims "to describe how trauma impacts the brain" and "provide examples of how officers can increase empathy towards those they interact with personally and professionally."

The course is paired with a 158-slide presentation featuring several videos on trauma, empathy, and police responses to various incidents.

A video on empathy asks, "If you had knowledge of another person's experiences … would it change the way you respond to individuals?"

"It is critical to consider all of our responses through a trauma lens," the presentation states. "While we may have to hold individuals accountable for their behavior, it can make a significant difference if we act from a place that recognizes their humanity separate from their behavior."

Officers are encouraged to get to "know" their "triggers," as well as their partners', to prevent "an extreme reaction."

A slide from the presentation asks law enforcement officers, "How do you feel today?" and features a chart of emojis listing various feelings, including "sad," "heartbroken," "angry," "affectionate," "explosive," "violent," "sneaky," "rage," "toxic," "hurt," and several more options. The course instructs officers to "label your feelings."

James "JT" Timpson, with Roca, told the AP, "In the streets, we look at some police officers like they're crazy, and they look at us like we're crazy."

"But we're both experiencing the same thing, which is trauma," Timpson added.

The Boston Police Department has also adopted Roca's training course.

According to the organization, the curriculum could reduce police violence and build trust within the community, the AP reported.

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