Associate Magazine - FBINAA - Q4 - 2022

SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY NETWORK

Continued from "De-Escalation Through Community Service", on page 16

nice until it’s time not to be nice." Officers should always use their interpersonal communication skills first until it is ineffective or the situation warrants different actions. Law Enforcement Executives have a substantial role and responsibility to move the organization into the community-ser vice mindset. The responsibilities go beyond well-written vision, mission statements, and lofty social media marketing techniques. Executives must recognize the law enforcement culture, ego, and "I'm in charge and it is my way or the highway” mentality. Executives must embrace and require the service mentality from all organizational components. They must reward and promote officers who demonstrate this mentality and professionalism and implement systems to discourage those who don't. Executives must also staunchly defend officers who use the necessary force when de-escalation is ineffective or impractical, even when it is politically unpopular. The community expects law enforcement to provide community service and de-escalation as an essential community service component. It's why we are here! Officers also expect to be steadfastly supported when they use reasonable force. Socrates said, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new."

About the Author: David R. Thompson is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and served the Saint Lucie County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) for over 30 years. He re tired as the Director (Chief) of Law Enforcement, holding command positions throughout the organization. David earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1997 from Barry University in Miami, Florida, and a Master of Public Administration Degree in 2001 from Troy State University in Troy, Ala bama. He is a February 1999 graduate of the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute Command Officers Development Course and Graduated from the FBI National Academy 230th Session in September of 2007.

David has been an adjunct faculty member of Indian River State College since 1989 and currently teaches at the Public Administration and Criminal Justice Programs. David is the President of Thompson Strategic Solutions, LLC, providing consulting and training services, allowing him to apply his extensive knowledge and experience to the private and public sectors.

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