Psychology in police training

Conclusion Recent studies have concluded that a number of major police departments have under-utilized their trained negotiators and suggested that they be used to develop further training, especially in the area of elementary psychological concepts such as communication and rapport building skills. This argument can be extended to include the use of negotiators or psychologists to train members of the department in essential psychological processes such as the importance of command and control, perception and communication. The advantage of training police personnel in the understanding of psychological concepts is that it can easily prevent injury to the public with the attendant reduction in civil liability. If the officers involved in the case discussed had understood even one of the three areas of basic psychological concepts the hostage might not have been injured nor would there have been the resulting civil liability of the law enforcement agencies. Proper psychological training is of benefit to police agencies not only in the delivery of services, and the advancement of the profession, but also in the prevention of injuries to the public and the lessening of civil liability.