Bloomfield Police Give ‘De-Escalation’ Training To 50 Officers

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — “De-escalating” a potentially dangerous situation doesn’t come naturally to everyone. But thanks to some key training, dozens of Bloomfield police officers now have a leg up when it comes to protecting the public, officials say.

The Bloomfield Police Department recently conducted mental health and de-escalation training for 50 of its officers. The training, provided by Cavanaugh & Keenan LLC, focused on five main topics:

• Overview of Mental Illness
• De-escalation and Active Listening
• Use of Force Guidelines
• Culture, LGBTQ and Biases
• Dealing With Anger/Empathy

According to a statement from Bloomfield town officials, responding to mental illness and de-escalating encounters with citizens has become “a daily occurrence” in police work.

“Officers face scrutiny and potential liability with each encounter,” township officials stated. “To some people, having the ability to de-escalate comes naturally, while for others, teaching the information to respond in a thoughtful manner, is a tool that they may need to avoid intensifying a situation.”

“I cannot stress enough how important it is to equip our officers with the absolute best possible training so that they are prepared for any situation they may encounter,” Public Safety Director Samuel DeMaio said.

“The goal is always to ensure the safety of our officers as well as the safety of the public,” DeMaio said. “As policing continues to change, the Bloomfield Police Department will continue to be at the forefront of the best training and technology available to us.”

Having members of the department trained as trainers in these areas will enable the BPD to make this not a one-time event, but an ongoing part of its annual curriculum for in service training, he added.

On August 10 and 11, three officers, including the commander of the BPD training bureau, will attend a practical de-escalation tactics and critical decision-making instructor course provided by Homefront Protective Group. The course will enable the department to conduct in-service training for officers on an annual basis.

“Our officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our community, especially so during the COVID-19 health crisis and for that we are eternally grateful,” Mayor Michael Venezia said.

“In order to ensure that encounters between the public are overwhelmingly positive, our officers take part in training which gives them the skills to deal with a variety of situations,” Venezia said. “Director DeMaio and the entire Bloomfield Police Department are leading the way in always being ahead of the curve on public safety.”

• See related article: Empathy From Newark Cops Helps Avert 2 Suicide Attempts
• See related article: Man Jumps On West Orange Cop Car; Here's How Officers Responded

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