Warrior or Guardian? - Training in German Law Enforcement
Location
CSU 204
Start Date
10-4-2018 11:05 AM
End Date
10-4-2018 12:05 PM
Student's Major
World Languages and Cultures
Student's College
Arts and Humanities
Mentor's Name
Nadja Kramer
Mentor's Department
World Languages and Cultures
Mentor's College
Arts and Humanities
Description
In recent years, police in the United States have gotten under scrutiny for violent conflict resolution that many in the public criticized and deemed as excessive and inappropriate - reflecting a “Warrior” mindset. What is lacking to return to a “Guardian” mindset? In my research, I took part in the Behavioral Training seminars of the Berlin Police Academy in Germany, where the focus is on teaching fundamental skills that decelerate or de-escalate a potential conflict situation. This training relates to core values of communication and conflict management that every law enforcement officer in Germany undergoes. Much of the training is designed to go beyond the apparent conflict and extends to “reading” the situation by emphasizing skills that are typically honed in a liberal arts curriculum: critical thinking and engaging in effective communication that is informed by intercultural competency. This presentation asks: Does a Liberal Arts Education make a better cop? What are core principles of communication and conflict resolution? And are these even viable goals to incorporate into law enforcement training in the United States?
Warrior or Guardian? - Training in German Law Enforcement
CSU 204
In recent years, police in the United States have gotten under scrutiny for violent conflict resolution that many in the public criticized and deemed as excessive and inappropriate - reflecting a “Warrior” mindset. What is lacking to return to a “Guardian” mindset? In my research, I took part in the Behavioral Training seminars of the Berlin Police Academy in Germany, where the focus is on teaching fundamental skills that decelerate or de-escalate a potential conflict situation. This training relates to core values of communication and conflict management that every law enforcement officer in Germany undergoes. Much of the training is designed to go beyond the apparent conflict and extends to “reading” the situation by emphasizing skills that are typically honed in a liberal arts curriculum: critical thinking and engaging in effective communication that is informed by intercultural competency. This presentation asks: Does a Liberal Arts Education make a better cop? What are core principles of communication and conflict resolution? And are these even viable goals to incorporate into law enforcement training in the United States?
Recommended Citation
Smith, Jonathan. "Warrior or Guardian? - Training in German Law Enforcement." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 10, 2018.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2018/oral-session-04/2
