Sergeant Coffee Needs You: Evaluation of a Police Officer Bystander Intervention Program

Police encounters with suspects may produce unfortunate outcomes, particularly when defiance of authority leads to usage of force. Application of excessive force may be interrupted, or obviated by the actions of bystander officers who become intervening officers. This study evaluated officer and supervisor perceptions of a training program which taught intervention strategies and tactics to help officers intervene with other officers to prevent harm. Data were collected very early in program implementation and approximately one year later. Survey data were collected with officers and qualitative focus groups were conducted with officers and supervisors. Findings indicate a marked change in perceptions by officers. Both quantitative and qualitative findings collected in early phase indicate a high degree of officer resistance. Late phase data indicate significantly higher endorsement of officer intervention strategies and participants reported higher frequencies of intervening with other officers. Findings suggest officer-based de-escalation and intervention training warrants implementation consideration from agency decision makers.