Peer Intervention For Baltimore Police: New Program Launches

From the Baltimore Police Department: The Baltimore Police Department (BPD), with support from the National Police Foundation, recently launched a new department-wide program to train officers on peer intervention strategies.

Ethical Policing Is Courageous (EPIC) is a peer intervention program that trains officers across all ranks to intervene in potentially problematic situations to prevent misconduct and mistakes—potentially saving careers and lives in the process. Through continual training and organizational support, EPIC empowers officers to step in before a wrongful action occurs.

“We know that officers have intervened in the past to prevent problems, but we also know that officers don’t intervene every time they should—and the consequences can be profound and tragic,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison. “EPIC is another step forward in transforming BPD. It represents a cultural change in policing and calls for all of us to intervene whenever possible for everyone’s benefit. This training is about helping our officers intervene and receive intervention, which encourages and supports law enforcement officers to become better leaders within their departments and in their communities.”

EPIC builds upon social science research and peer intervention programs in other fields to provide officers with skills to intervene in situations to preserve officer and community wellness. Originally developed by the New Orleans Police Department in collaboration with social science experts and civil rights leaders, EPIC educates officers, through scenario-based training, about the barriers to intervention and how to overcome those barriers. Recently, EPIC has gained national momentum, with the support of Georgetown Law’s Active Bystandership in Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project. Baltimore is an active participant in the ABLE Project and is at the forefront of peer intervention in policing with the implementation of its EPIC program.

“EPIC is a necessary step forward in policing. Through continual training and organizational support, EPIC helps officers step in to prevent misconduct and mistakes, potentially saving lives, careers, and regaining community trust as a result,” said Deputy Commissioner Danny Murphy. “By intervening to prevent misconduct and mistakes, officers can help their fellow officers, their community, and themselves in one action. EPIC is foundational to our sweeping reforms and will foster improved police-community relations, enhancing the Department’s ability to work collaboratively with the community to build a safer Baltimore.”

The Baltimore Police Department’s EPIC program was developed in collaboration with various units within the department, including Education & Training, Officer Safety & Wellness, rank-and-file officers from all commands, including the Patrol and Criminal Investigations Division, as well as community partners.

The National Police Foundation is supporting the implementation of this initiative and evaluating the impact of the program to inform the ongoing development of active bystandership training in policing.

“We are proud to work with the Baltimore Police Department on this initiative and we applaud their efforts to instill a culture of responsible, ethical policing,” says Jim Burch, President of the National Police Foundation. “The NPF recognizes the challenges Baltimore Police Department that law enforcement officers face on the job every day, and this program has promising implications to help ensure positive outcomes for both officers and community members.”

The training began in November and all sworn members of the department will receive the training. BPD will continue to reinforce EPIC throughout its training curriculum and will recognize and award officers for successful EPIC interventions under its new awards and commendations policies.

To learn more about BPD’s EPIC program, please visit: https://epic.baltimorepolice.org

About the Baltimore Police Department:

The BPD is the 8th largest municipal police force in the United States, staffed by nearly 3,100 civilian and sworn personnel. The department’s jurisdiction covers Maryland’s largest city, with a population of 614,000. Michael S. Harrison is the current police commissioner.

The Baltimore Police Department is dedicated to upholding the Constitution and enforcing laws in a fair, impartial, and ethical manner. We commit to creating and maintaining a culture of service that builds trust and legitimacy in all communities, values the sanctity of human life, and provides for the safety and well-being of all.

For more information, please visit: https://www.baltimorepolice.org

About the National Police Foundation:

The National Police Foundation (NPF) is a non-partisan and non-membership 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing the impact and delivery of police services through reforms and enhancements guided by innovation and science. For the last 50 years, the Foundation has led the development of research on all aspects of policing and leads the way in promoting and sharing evidence-based practices and innovation among law enforcement. The Foundation works with communities across the U.S. and internationally to provide research, training, and technical assistance relating to community engagement and problem solving, promoting safety and healthy organizations and officers, the reduction and prevention of violence, and equitable and fair justice for all. For more information, please visit the National Police Foundation website at www.policefoundation.org.