#de-escalation

#de-escalation

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."