Hi, I’m Kay Henderson. I manage the research hub at JJIE.org/hub.

This question is posed thoughtfully.

Inclusion of the “human” and empowerment of civil society is necessary as it relates to law enforcers. The United States has a systemic problem with maintaining the rights of those with little power, this includes the right of law enforcement to receive effective training in such a high risk job.

Officers are people, they are dealing with people-this is a person to person interaction not an abstract person to system issue. Officers have to be given an opportunity to develop high-level, quick decision-making skills, that will safeguard life. However, they mostly operate in defensive; a sure-fire way to bring out the worst in human behavior.

It’s time we concentrate on treating everyone better. Yes, there are always those that are not cognitively or socially prepared for a job they are hired to do, they should be recognized quickly through appropriate assessment and dismissed if found incapable. I’m not naive, I know this is a ‘protected’ ban of men, that operate on “an above the law” mentality. This is why power has to be taken on by citizens to demand better protections. In our plural culture, officers should have ongoing cultural, ethnic, psychological and race development training in addition to skills training in problem-solving.