...The two officers in this brief video represent two different policing styles, two different mindsets that officers use as they interact with civilians: the Guardian and the Warrior.
As a former police officer and current policing scholar, I know that an officer’s mindset has tremendous impact on police/civilian encounters.
I’ve described the Guardian and Warrior mindsets at some lengthhere and here; for now, suffice to say that the right mindset can de-escalate tense situations, induce compliance, and increase community trust over the long-term.
The kids interacting with the first officer were excited, but not upset; they remained cooperative. Had they gone home at that moment, they’d have a story for their friends and family, but it would be a story that happened to have the police in it rather than being a story about the police.
The wrong mindset, on the other hand, can exacerbate a tense encounter, produce resistance, and lead to entirely avoidable violence.
It can, and has, caused longterm damage to police/community relations...
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