A police officer embedded with a social worker
Credit: Ted S. Warren/AP
BURIEN, WASHINGTON — The middle-aged man sat slumped on his living room sofa with a beer bottle in one hand and a 12-inch knife in the other. His roommate had called police fearing that his friend, despondent over his fiancée jilting him, might take his own life.
Officer Mat Kelly and his partner responded to the scene. They moved into the room and stood several feet away from the man to ensure their safety and to signal they wanted only to talk. Rather than yell commands, Mr. Kelly, with a gun and a Taser holstered on either hip, spoke in a low voice and asked about his problems. After the man mentioned the failed engagement, the officer replied less like a cop than a confidant.
“Oh, wow, that’s rough. I know the feeling,” Kelly said. “I once had a girlfriend call me at work and break up with me.”
Kelly went on to share that he recovered from the split and later met the […]
I think police should be required to have a four year degree in psychology before entering the police academy. That would give them the tools they need psychologically to be a good police officer or sheriff or whatever type of office which requires them to carry a lethal weapon in their job. Empathy is a difficult topic to instill in a person and only a person trained to have it should be in those kinds of jobs.
Rev. Dean. Pleased to run across you again. I like the direction of your thought on this, though might offer a slight additional perspective. While clinical psychology departments do have important training focused on interactive skills with clients, but sometimes psychologists are more theory and abstract focused than acquiring heightened interpersonal skills. But that’s an issue which could be carefully dealt with.
Many professional counseling programs, and the better Social Work departments, can offer good alternative options for police to acquire the additional skills and insights in addition to psychology programs you suggest.
Sorry not meaning to quibble. Hope you are well!
This is indeed a positive, hopeful story. There needs to be more and more such.
And I’m not surprising that the story is in the CSMonitor. They are one of the last bastions of thorough, objective and responsible reporting. Plus their focus is to also be a positive uplifting force.
Had somehow skipped over this story when I came out earlier. Glad that I came back & found it.
These days find us being parched for reports which are positive and hope-bringing. Reports which are also solid and not hype. Refreshing to read this one.