City of Long Beach Public Safety Training

Agency Background:

The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) is the second largest municipal police agency in Los Angeles County and provides law enforcement services to the 7th largest city in the State of California. Long Beach covers over 50 square miles including major entertainment areas, waterfront attractions, an airport, and is home to the second busiest port in the United States. Long Beach is considered one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the nation; its population of 470,000 residents is comprised of Latinos (40.8%), Caucasians (29.4%), African Americans (13.5%), and Asians (12.9%). Nearly 27% of Long Beach residents are immigrants. Further, the local percentage of households living in poverty is 16% of the total population.

The mission of the LBPD is to collaborate to reduce crime, enhance safety, build trust, and support the wellness of its workforce and its community. The LBPD is a cornerstone of safety, law enforcement, and community support in the City of Long Beach. As law enforcement professionals, the LBPD police officers play a vital role in ensuring public safety and building positive relationships with community members through active engagement, communication, and collaboration. They work to understand community needs and concerns, address quality of life issues, and foster trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the public.

Problem Statement:

In recent years, incidents involving use of force by law enforcement officers have garnered significant public attention and scrutiny, highlighting the need for enhanced training in de-escalation techniques for law enforcement agencies. Despite the critical importance of de-escalation skills in promoting public safety and building trust with communities, many law enforcement agencies across the country lack comprehensive training programs in this area. Encounters between police officers and individuals, whether in crisis or not, often require effective de-escalation strategies to prevent situations from escalating unnecessarily. From routine traffic stops to community engagement events, the ability of officers to effectively de-escalate tense situations can mitigate conflicts, reduce the use of force, and enhance overall public safety. However, without proper training and support, these interactions may escalate rapidly, resulting in injuries, fatalities, and strained community relations.

To address this multifaceted challenge and improve outcomes for both officers and the public, LBPD is proposing to use the funds from the Byrne Discretionary Grant Program to develop and implement a specialized de-escalation training program. This program will be designed to equip the agency’s police officers (including lieutenants and sergeants), recruits and security services officers with the necessary skills and tools to effectively de-escalate a wide range of situations they may encounter in the line of duty. In total, LBPD is proposing to train 817 full-time employees (FTEs).

Program Description  

LBPD’s comprehensive de-escalation training program aims to equip 817 police officers, recruits and security services officers within its agency with the essential skills and strategies needed to effectively manage and defuse a range of critical incidents and high-stress situations. The program will consist of a series of interactive workshops, simulations, and practical exercises designed to enhance officers’ understanding of de-escalation principles, communication techniques, and conflict resolution strategies. Each participant will receive 12 hours of training.

To ensure the sustainability of the program, LBPD will send four designated officers to participate in a specialized Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT) ‘train the trainer’ session, to be facilitated by the Police Executive Research Forum. ICAT is a training program that provides first responding law enforcement officers with the tools, skills, and options they need to defuse critical incidents successfully and safely. ICAT focuses on situations involving persons in crisis and those who are unarmed or armed with weapons other than firearms. The training program is anchored by the Critical Decision-Making Model that helps officers assess situations, make safe and effective decisions, and document and learn from their actions.  The four officers LBPD sends to the ‘train the trainer’ session will receive intensive instructions and certification in de-escalation training methodologies, curriculum development, and facilitation techniques. Upon completion of the ‘train the trainer’ session, these certified instructors will return to LBPD to lead the implementation of the de-escalation training program for all 817 FTEs.

In addition to utilizing the fundamentals of the ICAT training program, LBPD will also use the principals of the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) project. The ABLE project is a national hub for training, technical assistance, and research, with the aim of creating a police culture in which officers routinely intervene and accept interventions, as necessary, to prevent misconduct, avoid police mistakes, and promote officer health and wellness. ABLE delivers practical, scenario-based training for police agencies in the strategies and tactics of police peer intervention and guides agencies and communities on the concrete measures that must be in place to create and sustain a culture of peer intervention. The LBPD has conducted ABLE trainings in the past and it will use the expertise learned from the program to develop its own training program.  

The training curriculum will be tailored to the specific needs and challenges faced by LBPD, incorporating real-life scenarios, case studies, and role-playing exercises to stimulate the complexities of law enforcement encounters in the City of Long Beach. Topics covered will include recognizing signs of distress and agitation, effective verbal and non-verbal communication, tactical positioning and de-escalation, and strategies for managing individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues. Below are the modules that will be included in the training:

Introduction

Introduction to the ICAT and ABLE programs.

The critical decision-making (CDM) model

In-depth discussion on the five steps of the CDM model which include: collect information; assess situation, threats, and risks; consider police powers and agency policy; identify options; determine best course of action, and act., review and re-assess. The module will also include a discussion about the core of the CDM model, which guides all five steps in the decision-making process. The core will be tailored to LBPD’s mission, ethics, values, principles, and priorities.

Crisis recognition

In-depth discussion on how to identify those experiencing a crisis.  

Tactical communications

In depth discussion on how to interact with those in crisis.

Operational tactics

In-depth discussion on tactical considerations before, during, and after a critical incident.

Step up and step in

In-depth discussion on how to prevent problems before they occur, including intervening when a colleague is about to make a mistake.

In addition to classroom instruction, the participants will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on practical exercises and scenario-based simulations to apply their de-escalation skills in realistic scenarios. These experiential learning opportunities will reinforce key concepts and provide officers with valuable feedback and guidance from experienced instructors.

Throughout the training program, LBPD will emphasize the importance of ethical decision-making and cultural competency in all law enforcement interactions. Officers will be encouraged to approach encounters with empathy, professionalism, and respect for the autonomy of individuals, thereby promoting positive outcomes and building trust within the community they serve.

By empowering LBPD officers with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively de-escalate challenging situations, LBPD aims to enhance public safety, reduce use of force incidents, and foster positive relations between law enforcement and the Long Beach community.

In addition, participating personnel will be supplied with class handouts, booklets, and other pertinent information. The participants will also be provided with a copy of a book on the subject so that they can continue their learning journey on their own, beyond the classroom.

Goals and Objectives: 

LBPD proposes to include the following goals and objectives for this training program:

Goal #1: Reduced unnecessary harm to civilians

Objective 1: Increase Officers’ Proficiency in De-Escalation Techniques

Objective 2: Decrease Use of Force Incidents

Goal #2: Reduced unnecessary harm to officers

Objective 1: Enhance the Officer’s Situational Awareness and Threat Assessment Skills

Goal #3: Improved police/community relations

Objective 1: Foster Effective Communication and Crisis Resolution Skills

Objective 2: Promote Community Engagement and Collaboration

Goal #4: Improved officer health and wellness

Objective 1: Promote Mental Well-Being and Mental Resilience

Goal #5: Improved citizen satisfaction with their law enforcement agency

Objective 1: Enhance Quality of Service Delivery

Objective 2: Increase Community Engagement and Collaboration

 This list of objectives is designed to assist LBPD to achieve its mission to collaborate to reduce crime, enhance safety, build trust, and support the wellness of its workforce.