Beyond the Books: De-Escalation & Crisis Intervention: How Officers Handle High-Stress Situations
This Beyond the Books session explores the real-world challenges of de-escalation and crisis intervention in law enforcement. Students will learn how officers assess rapidly changing situations, recognize signs that someone may be in crisis, communicate when emotions are running high, and determine when slowing things down may be the safest approach.
Beyond the Books – Criminal Justice
De-Escalation & Crisis Intervention: How Officers Handle High-Stress Situations
When officers respond to a tense encounter or a person experiencing a mental health crisis, what they say and do in the first few moments can shape everything that happens next.
This Beyond the Books session explores the real-world challenges of de-escalation and crisis intervention in law enforcement. Students will learn how officers assess rapidly changing situations, recognize signs that someone may be in crisis, communicate when emotions are running high, and determine when slowing things down may be the safest approach.
The conversation will also examine the balance officers must maintain between protecting public safety, maintaining control of a scene, and treating individuals with professionalism and respect. Students will hear about practical de-escalation strategies, communication techniques, situational awareness, and the judgment required when there isn't an obvious or easy solution.
Lieutenant Brian Baker brings nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience to the discussion, providing a firsthand perspective on how these skills are applied in the field.
For students considering careers in law enforcement or other areas of criminal justice, this session offers a look at an important part of the profession that goes well beyond policies and procedures: working effectively with people during some of their most difficult moments.
About the Speaker:
Brian Baker
I began my Law Enforcement career in 1997 with the Grandfield Police Department in Oklahoma. I have also worked for the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Park Police Department, and 20 years with The Colony Police Department. I am currently a Lieutenant in the Patrol Division, the FTO Coordinator, and also head up our auto theft group that is a part of the Northern Collin-Denton County Auto Theft Task Force.
In my career I have been a part of the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office Gang Unit, the North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force, North Texas Violent Gang Task Force, my department’s liaison with the FBI Counter Terrorism Group 3, a member of The Colony’s SWAT team for 7 years, as well as all the stuff in my bio for TCOLE.
I also have a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Midwestern State University