Crisis Communication For First Responders
Enhancing Safety & Success in Police-Citizen Encounters
Crisis Communication: Enhancing Safety & Success in Police-Citizen Encounters is a revolutionary course created by Jeffrey Scholz and Joseph Auriemma, nationally recognized instructors with decades of frontline experience. By merging Jeff’s Professional Sincerity® model with Joe’s Teach to Talk™ communication philosophy, this training provides officers with practical tools to build trust, maintain control, and navigate high-stakes situations.
In law enforcement, communication isn't just a skill; it's your first line of defense. Every call, every contact, every crisis presents a choice: your words can either defuse tension or escalate it.
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In law enforcement, communication is more than a skill; it's a critical component of officer safety and public trust. Every interaction carries the potential to influence outcomes, and the words officers choose can mean the difference between a peaceful resolution and escalation.
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Agencies that host this training invest in the safety of their officers and the communities they serve. Participants leave with renewed confidence, knowing how to navigate complex situations using advanced communication strategies. By understanding crisis encounters' psychological and behavioral elements, officers can effectively de-escalate situations, reducing the likelihood of use-of-force incidents.
Why Choose This Course?
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Two Disciplines - One Mission: By integrating Professional Sincerity® and Teach to Talk™, officers learn to establish trust, communicate authentically, and navigate challenging interactions. This dual-approach model fosters transparency, credibility, and confidence, benefiting officers and the public.
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Real Techniques for Real Situations: Training goes beyond theory. Participants will engage in hands-on exercises and scenario-driven learning, applying techniques that have been field-tested in real-world situations. Whether handling a mental health crisis, a high-stress confrontation, or a routine encounter that turns unpredictable, officers will be equipped to respond effectively.
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Communication That Drives Safety: Effective communication reduces the need for physical force, improves compliance, and enhances officer and public safety. By mastering verbal de-escalation, officers can control the emotional tone of a situation, fostering cooperation and preventing escalation.
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Course Benefits for Your Agency
Hosting Crisis Communication: Enhancing Safety & Success in Police-Citizen Encounters brings measurable benefits to your department. Agencies prioritizing communication training often see fewer complaints, fewer use-of-force incidents, and increased public trust. Officers become more effective communicators, making better decisions under stress and responding professionally and empathetically.
In addition to enhancing officer safety, this training supports agency goals related to community policing, crisis intervention, and mental health response. Departments will also benefit from improved morale and resilience among personnel, as officers gain confidence in handling challenging situations.
Key Topics Covered
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De-Escalation as an Outcome: Communication is the tactic; de-escalation is the result. Participants will learn to apply tone, timing, and presence to influence behavior and reduce conflict.
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The Science of Crisis: Understanding how stress affects brain function is crucial in high-pressure situations. Officers will explore how to manage their stress responses while recognizing behavioral cues from others.
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Behavioral Recognition & Decision-Making Tools: Utilizing tools like the OODA Loop and baseline behavior analysis, officers will develop the ability to assess threats, make quick decisions, and adapt their communication strategies accordingly.
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Mental Health & Disability Awareness: Officers will gain insights into recognizing and responding appropriately to individuals with mental health conditions such as PTSD, schizophrenia, autism, and diabetic shock.
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Foundational Communication Skills: Through hands-on application of Professional Sincerity®, Teach to Talk™, and models like the Behavioral Change Stairway, officers will master the art of clear, assertive, and empathetic communication.
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Empathy, Rapport & Influence: Officers will practice techniques like motive mapping, using empathetic stems, and applying credibility tactics to foster cooperation and achieve voluntary compliance.
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Tailoring Communication by Personality Type: By applying the DISC personality model, officers will learn to adjust their communication style to achieve more effective outcomes in emotionally charged situations.
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Officer Wellness and Resilience: Communication fatigue and stress can take a toll. This course highlights the connection between effective communication, reduced stress, and long-term officer resilience.
Interactive Learning Experience
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Realistic scenario-based drills
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Back-to-back listening exercises
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Crisis encounter replays
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DISC personality analysis
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Guided self-assessments and group discussions
Who Should Attend?
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Patrol Officers
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Field Supervisors
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Crisis Negotiators
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School Resource Officers
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Jail/Correctional Staff
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Dispatchers
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Public Safety Personnel Facing High-Pressure Encounters
Your Takeaways
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Enhanced officer safety and public trust
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Reduced use-of-force incidents
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Increased confidence in handling crisis situations
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Improved outcomes in mental health-related calls
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Renewed professionalism and purpose in communication
Transform Your Approach to Crisis Communication
When communication becomes your strongest tactical skill, safety becomes the outcome.
By hosting Crisis Communication: Enhancing Safety & Success in Police-Citizen Encounters, your agency is proactively committed to protecting its officers and the community. This course will transform how your team connects, leads, and protects in every interaction.
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About the Collaborator: Jeffrey G. Scholz​
Jeffrey G. Scholz, a retired Senior Investigator from the New York State Police, brings over 28 years of law enforcement experience to this course. As the owner of 886 Consulting, LLC, Jeff provides comprehensive public safety training that enhances communication, connection, and influence within organizations.​
As the Senior Investigator for BCI Training at the State Police Academy, he was responsible for developing and delivering training programs to over 1,100 investigators in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, as well as programs for more than 3,000 uniformed troopers, recruits, civilians, and external law enforcement agencies across New York State and beyond.​
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Recognized as a Nationally Certified Instructor by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST), Jeff also holds the designation of Master Instructor for Police Topics from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. In 2019, he received the prestigious New York State Police George R. Searle Award for excellence in police training.​
Since founding 886 Consulting in 2022, Jeff has delivered training to thousands of civilians and police officers across 17 states, emphasizing the importance of effective communication in public safety. His commitment to enhancing officer and community safety through improved communication strategies is a cornerstone of the Crisis Communication: Enhancing Safety & Success in Police-Citizen Encounters course.