COPS AND US, LET’S TALK. Few issues have vaulted to the forefront of public attention and concern as dramatically as the relations between police and the communities they have sworn to “protect and serve.” Amplified by the COVID-19 crisis and national political polarization, a relationship that should be founded on mutual trust and respect seems to have descended into a maelstrom of hostility, confrontation and physical violence. Your participation is both needed and important!

This course provides an opportunity for participants to engage with a diverse group of professionals in the field—police, judges, prosecutors, mental health specialists, and others—in a thoughtful discussions of issues such as:

*Racial discrimination
*Use of force in the arrest process, if arrest is deemed necessary
*Collaboration between officers and mental health professionals
*The value of public forums, including Osher
*Transparency, including records and available video, both private and police
*Street protest, marches, and demonstrations
*Civility and respect

Each class will begin with a 15-20 minute presentation by a professional or professionals, followed by a full and open discussion—a candid give-and-take—which will require that all involved leave preconceptions “at the door.” While we may not resolve the problem under discussion, we should all leave more knowledgeable and reflective than we arrived.