Most Important Skills For A Police Officer At UCLA Police Department
Officer London emphasizes communication skills as paramount, stating that "being level-headed and having good communication skills is so important," far outweighing physical skills, even with their imposing presence. The ability to de-escalate situations through respectful dialogue, embodying a "public servant" role and remembering "you catch more flies with sugar than vinegar," is key to effectiveness and positive community impact, according to the officer's 17 years of experience.
Communication, Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, Stress Management, Public Service
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
London McBride
Police Officer
UCLA Police Department
Utah State University 99'
Southern New Hampshire University; MS-Organizational Leadership
Anthropology, Sociology
Government & Public Sector
Legal
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Effective communication skills are crucial for de-escalation and building rapport with individuals in stressful situations.
2. Maintaining a calm and level-headed demeanor is essential for making sound judgments and avoiding unnecessary conflict.
3. The ability to critically assess situations and consider various outcomes is vital for ensuring the safety and well-being of both officers and the public.
Transcript
What sort of skills are most important for a job like yours?
The biggest skills you need are those related to communication. Communication is huge. Being able to keep a level head and critically think about situations is important. You will be put in stressful situations, and in those moments, you need to take ego out of the equation.
Really start to look at things from a 30,000-foot view. See what happens if you do this, and what happens if you do that. The decisions you make can have a lasting effect on the person you're dealing with, the people you're dealing with, and the community.
To be able to think, be level-headed, and have confidence in your ability is essential. We teach a lot about perishable skills, like firearms, driving, and defensive tactics. That's fine, but if you're a good communicator, you most likely won't have to use those skills.
In my 17 years, I've never gotten into a physical altercation. I've had to arrest people, but it's never turned into a fight because I'm always willing to talk. I don't want to fight; let's talk and figure out how I can best serve you.
We are public servants here to serve our community. What that looks like differs on every call, every meeting, and everything we do. It depends on which part of the public we are serving at that moment.
Being level-headed, calm, and having good communication skills are so important to doing this job effectively, especially to make change. You have to be able to talk to people because they want to be respected, heard, and valued. We can do that without being an imposing force.
We can accomplish a lot just by talking. My dad always told me, "You catch more flies with sugar than vinegar." It's about taking that approach when talking to people and dealing with folks in this environment.