Re-establishing trust between police and public

THE U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the Seattle Police Department. Crime is down, so is public trust. Appropriately, Seattle police will join the King County Sheriff's Office in imposing significant changes in officer training.

The devil will be in the details and implementation. The new focus on communication and de-escalation is so obvious one wonders how it can be new.

But a more justice-based system can improve the way new and current officers handle encounters with the public; course correction is sorely needed. It also cannot hurt Seattle if federal investigators observe the city taking fast action to improve interaction between officers and the public.

The Washington State Justice Based Policing Initiative is a pilot project involving the state's two largest local police departments, Seattle and King County, and calls for a focus on LEED — listen and explain with equity and dignity.

King County Sheriff Sue Rahr and Seattle Police Chief John Diaz insist the training is not merely a reaction to recent events. The agencies, also motivated by the new leader of the state police academy, Joe Hawe, had already been discussing new techniques. The latest troubles with Seattle police, caught on video, added clear urgency.

Listening first is one of the most important concepts. And while that sounds stunningly obvious, research shows a suspect or witness calms after telling the story — basic human psychology.

Officers nationwide grapple with recent police shootings and a decline in overall civility.

A generation of new officers more adept at texting and Internet chat is rising through the ranks. Decent communication skills may be assumed — and nonexistent. Police training during the past decade focused more on physical control rather than verbal tactics and de-escalation.

An officer with solid communication skills who can establish trust and respect is likely to ratchet down emotions and improve safety.

SPD, King County and the academy seek a $250,000 federal grant to help analyze whether the training works. That is a solid idea. With or without the money, the new training is overdue.