Interpersonal Communication:
Assessment and Training Tools

A Message From
the Project Directors

Greg Seidel Project Director Veteran Law Enforcement Commander		Randy Means Executive Director Career Law Enforcement Advisor/Trainer

Problem
There are no consistently applied performance standards for the most important skill domain in law enforcement. Human relations and interpersonal communication skills are the most important skills a law enforcement officer could possibly have, but there is wide disagreement on what exactly those skills look like in police applications. Consequently, training, supervision and discipline in this area are inconsistent, at best. Horror stories abound, as do claimed successes. Widely varying theories and applications receive anecdotal and experiential credit and blame, but there has been little concerted or systematic application of subject matter expertise to this important matter. Officer performance runs the gamut from sound to poor with little organizational feedback or intervention.

Solution
Using true subject matter expertise: 1) Identify performance criteria and standards for officer-citizen communication, 2) Develop correlated evaluative tools, and 3) Create an associated training program. This Project recognizes the criticality in law enforcement work of good human relations and interpersonal communication skills and the need to assure the presence of those skills in incumbent law enforcement officers. To that end, the Project has identified appropriate performance criteria and created “real life” tests for assessing those skills in a law enforcement context. It has also created correlated remediation tools, including computer/ video-based training, for use as necessary and/or desirable. All criteria were developed by a faculty of Subject Matter Experts whose qualifications include both extensive law enforcement experience and relevant, advanced academic credentials.

These Subject Matter Experts average 25 years of full-time experience as extremely successful police officers. They include two veteran, licensed psychologists. Their degrees include Master’s Degrees in Communication Studies, Doctorate Degrees in Human Development, and Ph.D.’s in Psychology. All teach law enforcement communication skills. Most teach in upper division college and university settings. All teach nationally, some internationally. Also, the Project Executive Director has a relevant Doctorate Degree, 28 years experience in evaluating the proper use of police authority, and has taught this subject nationally for many years. This is the strongest team ever assembled for the purpose of identifying performance criteria in officer-citizen communication.

Benefits
Improved performance in this skill domain will strengthen community relations, increase investigative effectiveness, reduce complaints and lawsuits, minimize use of force, enhance officer and public safety, improve working relationships, and reduce work-related stress.