For many people, the only direct contact that they have with police officers is during a routine traffic stop. Millions of people are stopped every day without incident. Too often, however we see Black people being pulled over for a minor infraction that eventually escalates into a deadly force incident. When something goes wrong and innocent people are killed, it has a terrible impact on the community.

Blacks are more than three times more likely to be shot during a police encounter. While many police officers do an exemplary job of protecting our citizens, cities are realizing that they need to integrate mental health professionals into the team that serves the public. Over time it has become clear that routine communication tactics that of been employed in the past are not working with people that have mental conditions.

To reduce the possibility of a traffic stop escalating into a deadly force incident, we have designed workshops for young Black and Brown drivers. This training gives participants the skills to talk to police officers in a way that is respectful, cooperative and assertive. They will learn about factors that cause a traffic stop to escalate and techniques to prevent accidental shootings. By attending these workshops, trainees will understand their legal rights and how to diffuse potentially deadly situations.

To see an outline of these workshops, click here.