(Training for the Delaware State Police Department, September 8-9, 2021)
Empathy for those served, for one another, and for oneself can enhance the quality of life for those in law enforcement. Further, empathy is enhanced through understanding why many people behave as they do, which is a central tenet of being trauma informed. In 2019, the IACP adopted a resolution encouraging all law enforcement agencies to become well informed about the correlation between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and numerous negative outcomes, which is the central focus of trauma-informed care training, but, so far, this information has not been systematically disseminated in law enforcement settings. Thus, efforts should be undertaken to inform law enforcement of both the importance of ACEs and the potential impact of law enforcement becoming what is known as “trauma informed,” with one central outcome being a significant gain in empathy for those trained in this philosophy.
Article co-authors include Dr. Andi Clements, ETSU/Ballad Health Strong BRAIN Institute and Wade Gorley, Chief of Police, Oklahoma City Police Department. You can read the full article "Increasing Empathy Through Trauma Informed Policing" in the attached magazine on pages 30-36..
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