Straus Trains Los Angeles Police Department Personnel in Conflict Resolution

The Straus Institute was delighted to receive a grant from the JAMS Foundation to train Los Angeles Police Department officers, personnel, and community members on conflict resolution education and trust-building skills. In May and June 2022, Straus launched these trainings, which consisted of approximately 30 police officers and civilian personnel at varying levels of seniority and across multiple sectors of the police department. Serving diverse neighborhoods across the city and Los Angeles County, the professionals engaged in four days of training, including two days of asynchronous online learning and two days of skills and exercises in person at Pepperdine University. The training was done in collaboration with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office’s Dispute Resolution Program, with its former director, Shaphan Roberts (MBA ‘16), formally joining the Straus Institute as director of online programs in May 2022. Participants’ in-person days included simulated mediation sessions, with experienced professionals coaching participants and offering real-time feedback. A third training session was held in mid-November and the institute will continue to execute these trainings— inviting community members to take part in the curriculum as well—in the New Year.