Behavioral Communication in Interviews and Interrogations: Emotional Intelligence as a Tool

Clarification: This is a collaborative work, with one author, Rodney Parks, a veteran police official, and the other, P.S. Perkins, a communications expert. When the article below uses “I,” “me,” or “we,” it reflects the experiences and views of the law enforcement official. Otherwise, both authors have developed this approach together. Years of successful and…

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Wisdom and Warning – From an Unusual Source

I recently came across the following speech about policing. I’d heard it many times before, but I never recognized how profound it truly is. I’m paraphrasing it slightly here. The world grows smaller every day, and the threat of harm by any group, anywhere, can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all,…

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National Policing Institute Releases 2024 Annual Report

With a steady finger on the pulse of what matters to law enforcement, the National Policing Institute (NPI) is focused on bringing what works to the field—ensuring safe, effective policing for everyone, every time. Throughout 2024, NPI shared proven strategies, tools, and best practices with law enforcement agencies nationwide. Our annual report examines a selection…

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Building Bridges: How Communication Accommodation Can Drive Stronger Community Partnerships

Police in the U.S. are faced with the ongoing challenge of forging positive relationships with the communities they serve. Communities are not one homogenous group, however, and some relationships are more significantly strained in communities that have a long history of conflict with the police. Communication mediates these relationships and can play a significant role…

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Interim Chief vs. Appointed Chief: Distinctions with a Difference

What is the distinction between an interim chief and an appointed chief? What are the challenges, the opportunities, the pitfalls – if any? Change is a constant in policing; in recent years, moreover, there have been rapid levels of change at the executive level. A law enforcement officer promoted to captain today could find him-…

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Organizational Culture By Design

Cultivating and sustaining positive relationships with the community is fundamental to effective democratic policing. These relationships, together with the quality of police-public interactions, govern the perceptions of procedural justice and police legitimacy. Law enforcement agencies are constantly working to strengthen community relationships by ensuring community members are treated with dignity and respect, displaying trustworthy motives,…

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