New cadet training promotes communication not confrontation

The Atlantic Police Academy is using a new approach to teach cadets how to deal with crisis situations. In the past, it trained them to use force. Now they're also learning to better communicate and be aware of mental health issues when they approach a person in crisis.

The Atlantic Police Academy trains cadets to use 'empathy and understanding'

Nancy Russell CBC News Posted: Nov 16, 2015 8:00 PM EST | Last Updated: November 17, 2015

Cadets at the Atlantic Police Academy practise crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques in a scenario featuring an actor and scripted scenes. (Nancy Russell/CBC)

The Atlantic Police Academy is using a new way of teachingcadets how to deal with a crisis. In the past, the emphasis wason the use of force to control a volatile situation.

The new trainingsuggests a kinder, gentlerapproachusing a calm, friendlycommunication styleif there are no immediate safety issues. Cadets are also being trained to look forsigns of mental illness when approaching a person in crisis.

The training iscalled Crisis Intervention and De-escalation. The Academy used the new approach for the first time in May.

It's so exciting to see them humanize themselves and use empathyLeslie Hadfield, Atlantic Police Academy

Inspector Leslie Hadfield focuses on communication skills and mental health awareness as part of the new curriculum. (Nancy Russell/CBC)

"They've been on totally polar sides,"explained InspectorLeslieHadfield, Social Sciences Instructor.

"The use of forcelet's go in and take control physically, where the communication is talk, talk, talk, be nice, it's all a fuzzy and warm thing. But now we realize there's a place for both."

"It's so exciting to see them humanize themselves and use empathy and try to understand how these people are suffering," observedHadfield.

Calls to police: 65% are dealing with mental health

The curriculum was developed by the Justice Institute of B.C.in part in response to the Taser-related death in 2007 of Robert Dziekanski.

The Academy has been teaching an awareness of mental health issues for the last 5years. But this is the first time communications and mental health awareness are being given equal importance to the use of force in how cadets are trained to approach a crisis.

"We know we need mental health training," said Hadfield."We have the stats that tell us 65 percent of the calls for police are dealing with mental health."

The actor in this scenario is a graduate from the Academy who now works as a Corrections Officer. (Nancy Russell/CBC)

The new training has been attracting attention.

"The demand for this level of training has just gone through the roof," said Edgar MacLeod, the academy's executive director. "And it's beyond police. It's all of our public safety institutions that increasingly are dealing more with conflicts of people who are suffering from varieties of mental illness."

'You're always going to have your mouth.'

The cadets practise the communication skills in real-life scenarios, using actors and scripted scenes.

"Using these communications skills is huge," said cadet Nicole McKeown. "You're always going to have your mouth."

The Academy will also use this approach for training sheriffs, conservation and corrections officersas well asin-service training for officers already in the field.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News

Corrections and clarifications|Submit a news tip|