The future of policing, reimagined.
For law enforcement officers, de-escalation is often the goal. But what if an interaction could be cooled before it's necessary to employ such measures? Written by a police veteran, Deconfliction is a training manual to help police and citizens productively interact before de-escalation techniques are warranted.
The Deconfliction Principles are a mindset that includes situational awareness; using your words and engaging in active listening; empathetic understanding; finding common ground; acknowledging the problem; confronting negative feelings; encouraging compromise; providing choices; and, finally, being polite. Deconfliction also examines the past, present, and future of policing.
Marc Zelinsky started his life's work in 1987 studying criminology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He served as an Army Lieutenant, then attended law school at Duquesne University School of Law graduating in 2001. From there, Marc began a 17-year career in law enforcement in Charleston, South Carolina. Marc went international as a police advisor in Afghanistan for 18 months and a year in Haiti. He started a master's in criminal justice while in Afghanistan, which he finished in 2012. Marc returned to Charleston as a deputy sheriff where he was a trainer of new deputies before becoming a detective investigating sex crimes. Then, in 2019 Marc, became a defense investigator. First, as part of a team representing a non-911 high value detainee at Guantanamo Bay, and then as an Air Force defense investigator. Currently he is with the Army as a defense investigator. For good measure, in 2023, Marc attended and graduated from the Federal Criminal Investigator Training Program. This book uses the author's own experiences in law enforcement to highlight the need for a dif-ferent mindset in law enforcement as well as to entertain and provide a glimpse into some of the situations police officers face on a daily basis. Deconfliction is a new way of thinking for law enforcement officers. Deconfliction also reviews current law enforcement training with a look to the future. Additionally, Deconfliction addresses systemic racism in law enforcement, and the mental health crisis as it relates to policing. Finally, Deconfliction makes suggestions to citizens who find themselves in contact with police and how law enforcement may progress. Deconfliction is a mind set for police and citizens to implement during an interaction. Deconfliction also explains the past, present and future of policing reimagined through the experiences of a police veteran.
