Cops instructed to ‘close eyes’ during tense situations

nypost.com ^ | Feb. 23, 2015 | Larry Celona and Bruce Golding

[PROCON]

Cops should “take a deep breath’’ — and close their eyes — when dealing with angry people, according to the NYPD’s new “retraining’’ program.

The potentially dangerous advice is part of a $35 million “smart policing’’ primer by Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton that most of the cops who have gone through it say is completely useless.

One cop who sat through two full-day programs called them “not realistic’’ and “pretty silly.”

At one point during the lectures, the cop said, those in attendance were given breathing exercises to learn how to calm down — even when facing someone who could pose a threat to their safety.

“They said if you find yourself in a situation that’s getting heated, take a step back, close your eyes and take a deep breath,” he said.

“That’s pretty funny — that I would close my eyes in a tense situation.”

Another cop called the lectures “smoke and mirrors” to appease the public.

[QBFimi]

>> The cops need to learn how to deescalate a situation.

Google up “Verbal Judo”

[duckworth]

Here’s an idea: Envious, small-brained thugs who see someone with items the thugs want should simply close their eyes.

[razorback-bert]

I'd love to see this on an episode of Law and Order or Chicago PD. So people could see just how stupid it is.

It would work on Law and Order.

[Gator113]

I was an LEO for 30 years, now retired for 13 years. This garbage will not get more cops killed, because they will rightly see this as nonsense and ignore this foolishness.

Perhaps there should be a policy requiring the cops to put their hats on backwards....this will make the bad guy think the cop is leaving and make it easier to sneak up on him and slap him in the face with his purse. LOL

I used to jump ot of the car and throw my donut on the ground, that is when they knew I was seriously pi$$ed. ;>)

[SaraJohnson]

I can see advice like “take a deep breath” or “count to ten”...but never “close your eyes”! That is insane advice.
There are many strategies for deescalating conflicts that work sometimes and sometimes not. Police officers should know how to do this.

Anyway, the police officers that have been causing REAL problems are just bullies and they need to fear getting caught and punished through the legal system for abusing their power.