August 18, 2025
Academy Curriculum Recommendation: Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC), Chapter 25: Verbal Communication
The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is collaborating with the Educational Development Unit of the Austin Police Department (APD) to enhance the academy's curriculum. The OPO recommends changes to APD's verbal Communication training. OPO recommends course materials directly relate to APD's General Orders on impartial attitude and courtesy, impartiality and courtesy be an included consideration in cadet evaluations, verbal communication principles be integrated across other relevant courses, and scenario-based trainings be enhanced. OPO does not find the term "verbal judo" to be problematic.
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P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
OFFICE OF
WWW.ATXPOLICEOVERSIGHT.ORG
POLICEOVERSIGHT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV
POLICE OVERSIGHT
PHONE: 512.974.9090 I TTY: 711 I FAX: 512.974.6306
FOUNDED
COMPLAINT HOTLINE: 512-972-20PO
ACADEMY CURRICULUM RECOMMENDATION
TO:
Chief Lisa Davis, Austin Police Department
FROM:
Director Gail McCant, Office of Police Oversight
DATE:
August 18, 2025
SUBJECT:
BPOC Chapter 25: Verbal Communication
Dear Chief Davis,
The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is collaborating with the Educational Development Unit of
the Austin Police Department (APD) to enhance the academy's curriculum. OPO's Policy
Compliance Consultant is a member of the Professional Advisory Committee (PAC), which is
responsible for reviewing, evaluating, and providing feedback for improvement.
In addition to the subject matter experts hired by APD, the OPO has reviewed APD's curriculum
for the Verbal Communication course and provided the following recommendations for
improvement:
BPOC (Basic Peace Officer Course) Chapter 25: Verbal Communication
Unit Goal: Effective techniques of utilizing verbal communication/public interaction.
The following OPO recommendations emphasize the vital importance of respectful, impartial
communication in policing. By integrating these values into both curriculum and evaluation, and
aligning them with real-world feedback, APD can effectively improve officer conduct and
community-police relations.
1. OPO recommends that the Verbal Communication course curriculum emphasize the
importance of adhering to GO# 301.2 Impartial Attitude and Courtesy.
The second-highest complaint category for the OPO continues to be "courtesy and impartial
attitude" (301.2 Impartial Attitude and Courtesy). It is important to set the expectations for
interactions with the community for cadets. There should be a continued focus throughout
Academy training on the Verbal Communication course material as it pertains directly to
General Order # 301.2. Instructors should reference applicable General Orders to ensure cadets
understand the policies that govern their behavior. Also, courtesy and impartiality should be
included as core components in cadet evaluations, and actionable feedback should be provided
when skills fall short of expectations.
1
CTTP OF AUSTIN
P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
OFFICE OF
WWW.ATXPOLICEOVERSIGHT.ORG
POLICEOVERSIGHT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV
POLICE OVERSIGHT
PHONE: 512.974.9090 I TTY: 711 I FAX: 512.974.6306
FOUNDED
GERL
COMPLAINT HOTLINE: 512-972-20PO
ACADEMY CURRICULUM RECOMMENDATION
2. OPO recommends that APD integrate the principles of the Verbal Communication course
throughout other Academy courses.
APD should ensure that verbal communication principles are integrated across all relevant
Academy courses, rather than being limited to just one. Introducing this course early in the
Academy curriculum enables cadets to cultivate their verbal communication skills and apply
them in future courses on topics such as Crisis Intervention and Use of Force situations.
Consistent exposure to this material aids cadets in internalizing respectful communication as a
daily practice.
3. OPO recommends that APD enhance scenario-based training with real-world complaint
themes to reinforce respect and empathy under pressure.
APD should include role-play scenarios that simulate real-world complaints tied to officer
demeanor and communication. Cadets should be allowed to practice emotional intelligence,
reciprocity, and personal respect in high-pressure situations. Preparing cadets for high-pressure
encounters, focusing on perception and public impact, improves long-term community
relations.
SME Feedback: OPO disagrees with the SME's that the term "verbal judo" is problematic.
The resource Verbal Judo by Thompson and Jenkins (2013) is widely recognized for its emphasis
on empathy, respect, and tactical persuasion, which aligns with modern community policing
goals. APD should clearly define Verbal Judo as a de-escalation tool, not as a precursor to force.
The Office of Police Oversight appreciates the opportunity to provide constructive feedback on
the Austin Police Department's academy curriculum and recognizes the potential for continued
improvement. We look forward to ongoing collaboration on current and future curriculum
development to support continuous progress and effectiveness.
Sincerely,
Dail
FOUNDED
1839
Gail McCant
Director
Office of Police Oversight
2
P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
OFFICE OF
WWW.ATXPOLICEOVERSIGHT.ORG
POLICEOVERSIGHT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV
POLICE OVERSIGHT
PHONE: 512.974.9090 I TTY: 711 I FAX: 512.974.6306
FOUNDED
COMPLAINT HOTLINE: 512-972-20PO
ACADEMY CURRICULUM RECOMMENDATION
TO:
Chief Lisa Davis, Austin Police Department
FROM:
Director Gail McCant, Office of Police Oversight
DATE:
August 18, 2025
SUBJECT:
BPOC Chapter 25: Verbal Communication
Dear Chief Davis,
The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is collaborating with the Educational Development Unit of
the Austin Police Department (APD) to enhance the academy's curriculum. OPO's Policy
Compliance Consultant is a member of the Professional Advisory Committee (PAC), which is
responsible for reviewing, evaluating, and providing feedback for improvement.
In addition to the subject matter experts hired by APD, the OPO has reviewed APD's curriculum
for the Verbal Communication course and provided the following recommendations for
improvement:
BPOC (Basic Peace Officer Course) Chapter 25: Verbal Communication
Unit Goal: Effective techniques of utilizing verbal communication/public interaction.
The following OPO recommendations emphasize the vital importance of respectful, impartial
communication in policing. By integrating these values into both curriculum and evaluation, and
aligning them with real-world feedback, APD can effectively improve officer conduct and
community-police relations.
1. OPO recommends that the Verbal Communication course curriculum emphasize the
importance of adhering to GO# 301.2 Impartial Attitude and Courtesy.
The second-highest complaint category for the OPO continues to be "courtesy and impartial
attitude" (301.2 Impartial Attitude and Courtesy). It is important to set the expectations for
interactions with the community for cadets. There should be a continued focus throughout
Academy training on the Verbal Communication course material as it pertains directly to
General Order # 301.2. Instructors should reference applicable General Orders to ensure cadets
understand the policies that govern their behavior. Also, courtesy and impartiality should be
included as core components in cadet evaluations, and actionable feedback should be provided
when skills fall short of expectations.
1
CTTP OF AUSTIN
P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
OFFICE OF
WWW.ATXPOLICEOVERSIGHT.ORG
POLICEOVERSIGHT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV
POLICE OVERSIGHT
PHONE: 512.974.9090 I TTY: 711 I FAX: 512.974.6306
FOUNDED
GERL
COMPLAINT HOTLINE: 512-972-20PO
ACADEMY CURRICULUM RECOMMENDATION
2. OPO recommends that APD integrate the principles of the Verbal Communication course
throughout other Academy courses.
APD should ensure that verbal communication principles are integrated across all relevant
Academy courses, rather than being limited to just one. Introducing this course early in the
Academy curriculum enables cadets to cultivate their verbal communication skills and apply
them in future courses on topics such as Crisis Intervention and Use of Force situations.
Consistent exposure to this material aids cadets in internalizing respectful communication as a
daily practice.
3. OPO recommends that APD enhance scenario-based training with real-world complaint
themes to reinforce respect and empathy under pressure.
APD should include role-play scenarios that simulate real-world complaints tied to officer
demeanor and communication. Cadets should be allowed to practice emotional intelligence,
reciprocity, and personal respect in high-pressure situations. Preparing cadets for high-pressure
encounters, focusing on perception and public impact, improves long-term community
relations.
SME Feedback: OPO disagrees with the SME's that the term "verbal judo" is problematic.
The resource Verbal Judo by Thompson and Jenkins (2013) is widely recognized for its emphasis
on empathy, respect, and tactical persuasion, which aligns with modern community policing
goals. APD should clearly define Verbal Judo as a de-escalation tool, not as a precursor to force.
The Office of Police Oversight appreciates the opportunity to provide constructive feedback on
the Austin Police Department's academy curriculum and recognizes the potential for continued
improvement. We look forward to ongoing collaboration on current and future curriculum
development to support continuous progress and effectiveness.
Sincerely,
Dail
FOUNDED
1839
Gail McCant
Director
Office of Police Oversight
2