Transylvania University’s Department of Public Safety recently wrapped up a de-escalation training that will help foster a safe campus through improved communication.
During the four-day, train-the-trainer program, officers learned how to better handle situations peacefully, leading to calmer interactions and minimal conflicts. Chief Steven Herold broadened the impact of the sessions by inviting in participants from the community including representatives from the Blue Grass Airport, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and public schools.
Last week’s program covered procedural justice for fair and transparent engagement, trauma-informed care and crisis intervention for mental health and medical issues, and rapid personality assessments to ease communication. These tools give everyone involved in a situation more time, space and understanding to prevent escalations and create a welcoming atmosphere on campus — whether that’s talking to a student having a rough time or establishing a connection with a community member.
The de-escalation program builds on DPS’s recognitions the past two years for excellence in online training management via the Lexipol PoliceOne Academy platform. Officers completed up to 80 hours of virtual and in-person sessions.
Herold, who joined Transylvania in June, is drawing from his former role as a supervisor with the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond to further improve DPS. He’s served as a longtime instructor and officer for both law enforcement and the U.S. Army Reserve. President Brien Lewis highlighted his “vast experience and commitment to a collaborative safety approach” as vital for a secure campus.
Through his co-operation with local agencies, Herold is supporting not only students and officers, but also the Lexington community. Upcoming efforts may include emergency management classes with the University of Kentucky and field training with Lexington police.
Later this month, DPS officers are drilling at the state facility in Richmond using virtual reality firearm simulators — which also prioritize communication over force to keep Transylvania’s campus secure and students safe.
Studies show that officer training can greatly reduce the need for escalation, although police incidents are rare at Transylvania. “If the officers can communicate better, we’re less likely to see any type of force used,” Herold added. “That’s significant, especially on a small campus like ours.”
