#de-escalation

#de-escalation

I would hope that Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah is the voice that wins out at the end of the day. I don't know that I'm optimistic, but I think he's largely been pitch-perfect in this. And I'm still remembering, there is a 31-year-old man, who I didn't necessarily agree with on many things, but who's dead today and whose wife doesn't have him, and kids will be raised without him.

But Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican who has become a measured voice of the investigation into Kirk's killing, has urged Americans to resist "rage" in the wake of the shooting. Driving the news: Cox said on CNN's "State of the Union" that the country does not need to "sing Kumbaya and hold hands" - but rather, people must continue to engage with those with whom they disagree.

Since George Floyd's murder, calls have grown louder for accountability-essential but incomplete. Yes, we absolutely need to hold officers accountable and ensure that officers are punished for wrongdoing. But accountability is reactive-it comes only after a tragedy. Rarely does it drive prevention of the next tragedy. In fact, the threat of being sanctioned often creates perverse incentives-driving employees to cover up misconduct that helps explain why punishment alone fails to prevent the excessive use of force.

De-escalation is a method to prevent potential violence, emphasizing purposeful actions, verbal communication, and body language to calm dangerous situations and promote respectful outcomes.

"I've heard some of the frustration and concerns [from people in Northwest]. I've also heard some of the appreciation expressed by Portlanders in terms of the approach we took on Monday to try and deescalate things as the incident unfolded."