I was wondering how you deal with people with anger issues.  No reasoning with them, and cant think with their intellect, only emotions. So how do you help and trained to help them slow their anger down?

The bottom of a Rocky boot or an ASP usually does the trick.....just kidding

Most officers know that  the person is angry for a reason.  You try to sympathize with their problem, remembering times when you were that upset.  You try to give different options on how to resolve the problem that made them angry.  Usually the separation of two parties (cooling off time) usually solves the problem.

As for being angry at the police, this is easily solved.  Don't get into a confrontation with an officer. If an officer tells you to clear an area, you don't walk up to him or her and say, "I'm allowed to be here".  You probably will be arrested.  A lot of people find they have to challenge a lawful order.  Don't do it!  Don't do something that would draw an officer's attention (speeding, drug smoking, fighting, etc.)

Angry people are like drunks, you can't reason with them.  You try to get them to conform to the laws of area and ignore them.

It's been my experience as a negotiator that people will feed into whatever YOU give THEM. You can push an angry person over the edge by being angry back. On the flip side, you can bring an angry person down by lowering your voice, allowing them to vent and not being too judgmental. Just some observations.

I think that you have to size up the situation, decide how much venting to put up with, and when you don't have the time to size up a situation and you have to immediately take somebody into custody.  I have seen situations needlessly go up in smoke by raising the stakes when they didn't need raised, and get out of control fast when Officers don't take control of the situation. 

I will put up with a lot of B.S. on a traffic stop when the driver cusses me out after he gets his ticket and he never makes a move to unbuckle his seatbelt than I would in a Domestic call in a kitchen full of knives.

paem says ...

I was wondering how you deal with people with anger issues.  No reasoning with them, and cant think with their intellect, only emotions. So how do you help and trained to help them slow their anger down?

People do not change, but you can get them to anger management classes, I have seen good results with them, plus they may have medical issues

My Ex has been chronically pissed off at something for years, now he is onmedication for diabetes, and he is almost nice

Ralph8119 says ...

Pat, I'll start by telling you people don't change, I've been out of the game over 17 years and I know for sure the public has a different opinion of us in uniform, I did my job with a smile every day, my tour was always long, we ended and went to the cop bar and talked about each call!

Big cities, small towns, same calls!

I always say Pat, it's the greatest show on earth..................

You friend!

Ralph

I have to agree with Ralph it is the greatest show on earth. When ralph was leaving i was starting (i bet he is feeling old now). We get training in how to talk with people but sometimes it just don't work, well to be honest most times it don't work patience and how you phrase things can be a huge factor in keeping from fighting so I don't know just do I guess somethings just come with time and experience prolly did nt answer your question either