Inside Our Impact – September
The National Policing Institute team proudly presents Inside Our Impact, a newsletter dedicated to sharing NPI’s stories and those who make our work possible. Each issue highlights some of NPI’s research or projects and shares insights into how our dedication to excellence benefits you and your community.
How NPI is Advancing De-escalation in Policing
De-escalation refers to strategies and techniques designed to safely manage high-stress and potentially volatile encounters. For the police, it can help prevent conflicts from turning dangerous. At the National Policing Institute (NPI), we are committed to strengthening how de-escalation is taught and applied, as well as discovering its impact in the law enforcement profession. Through innovative research, model training programs, and national-level initiatives, NPI plays a leading role in shaping the future of de-escalation practices.
Our experts specialize in:
- Evaluating de-escalation training effectiveness
- Developing research-informed guidance and standards for de-escalation
- Creating real-world de-escalation training resources grounded in best practices
- Collaborating with officers, trainers, and public safety leaders
Our work brings together law enforcement professionals, mental and behavioral health experts, and academic researchers to deliver a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to de-escalation and crisis response. NPI’s resources are designed to help officers build the skills and confidence needed to apply de-escalation techniques in the field.
As more agencies adopt de-escalation training as a cornerstone of modern policing, NPI continues to drive forward with evidence-based strategies, practitioner innovations, and accessible tools that support officer safety, community confidence, and better outcomes for all.
Why It Matters
De-escalation training is critical because it equips officers with practical skills to safely resolve tense encounters, reduce unnecessary use of force, and strengthen trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Research has shown that in one agency, de-escalation training led to a:
- 28% reduction in use of force incidents
- 26% reduction in community member injuries
- 36% reduction in officer injuries.
Another study associated the implementation of de-escalation training with a 40% decrease in serious use of force incidents.
Key Elements of De-escalation Training
Skills: De-escalation training should impart trainees with skills to enhance critical decision-making, communication, and tactics as well as build rapport and influence with individuals to move toward a resolution.
Tactics: De-escalation tactics should help officers stabilize a situation and reduce the immediacy of harm; this may include pre-response planning, scene assessment, a team approach, and tactical repositioning to use distance and cover as an advantage.
Crisis Recognition: De-escalation training helps officers recognize and respond to a person who may be experiencing a crisis due to factors such as situational stress, trauma, mental health conditions, substance use, and cognitive disabilities, among others.
Communication: De-escalation training should impart officers with verbal and non-verbal communication skills to effectively engage members of the public through active listening.
Time: Time is to be viewed as a resource during de-escalation training, allowing for more options and resources to be considered by officers.
Options: De-escalation training reinforces that officers often have multiple response options when they arrive at a scene based on their police powers, agency policy, criminal activity (or lack thereof), and goals.
Resources: De-escalation training encourages officers to consider using community resources and services to divert individuals from the criminal justice system where appropriate.
Impact
The results so far are clear: de-escalation training makes communities and officers safer. Research further demonstrates that de-escalation training is also well-received by officers. Future projects, like setting national standards for de-escalation training programs, will help more officers know how to use the right skills every day.
When officers know how to calm situations, everyone benefits. It means fewer injuries, fewer conflicts, and stronger trust between police and the people they serve.
Meet Gabrielle Isaza, Ph.D., NPI Senior Research Associate
From a young age, Gabrielle Isaza was drawn to the world of criminal justice. That early curiosity propelled her to earn a masterā€™s degree and, ultimately, a PhD specializing in crime prevention and policing research. Over years of rigorous study and hands-on collaboration with law enforcement agencies, she discovered a passion for bridging the gap between research and practiceā€”translating evidence into real-world strategies that help build safer, stronger communities.
Gabby joined the National Policing Institute because of its commitment to advancing science in policing. By partnering directly with agencies across the county, NPI empowers researchers to translate data into action, and Gabby plays a pivotal role in that mission.
At NPI, Gabby leads groundbreaking projects with an aim to make police interactions with the public safer for all. From evaluating use of force training (de-escalation, peer intervention) and policy changes to advancing the enhancement of de-escalation training, including building and piloting a new de-escalation training curriculum and developing a standards-based process to approve de-escalation training, her work is shaping how agencies nationwide approach training, accountability, and community safety.
Raised in a military family, Gabby carries a lifelong respect for public service. That personal connection fuels her dedication to strengthening trust between police and the communities they serve.
Along with a team of amazing researchers and programmatic staff at NPI, Gabby Isaza is helping NPI set new standards for evidence-based policingā€”ensuring that officers are better prepared, communities are safer, and the profession continues to evolve.
If you liked this issue, and want more, subscribe to Inside Our Impact here. To learn more about how to support our work, policinginstitute.org/support-our-work.