Implicit Bias is a commonly misinterpreted term.  Often used to describe unconscious racism, implicit biases are, in actuality, much more than a singularly held prejudice. They are much more complex in scope. They are possessed by all human beings and exist for a purpose. The key questions regarding biases we hold unconsciously are: Why do we have them? Where do they come from? What are mine? And perhaps most importantly: Are they helpful or maladaptive when it comes to assessing, deciding and behaving during interactions with others?

In this course, we will dissect all biases, whether implicit or explicit, and examine whether we have any that are illicit in nature, particularly as they relate to race and cultural diversity. Biases that could cause officers to unconsciously view certain people as inherently dangerous can result inaccurate assessments, flawed decisions, unprofessional behavior and unnecessary uses of force.

We address topics that include, but are not limited to the following:

• The current state of law enforcement & community relations
• Diversity in law enforcement
• The psychology of bias and its real-world impact
• Examine the relationship between the unconscious & implicit bias
• Bias awareness for successful interactions
• Illicit racial bias and decision making
• Complete communication: The most important skill we possess
• Force mitigation opportunities
• Affecting organizational change: It starts at the top