Law enforcement, bias and racial justice

SPOKANE — Bias and racial justice, especially when these become intermixed with law enforcement, are two of many hot button issues of our times — topics that require more than just one setting to adequately discuss.

To that extent, the People for Effective Government (PEG) are providing two community forums addressing both — with the first through insights provided by a pair of experts and the other through discussion from a community panel of individuals dealing directly with each topic.

“It is an understatement to say that police reform and racial justice is a hot topic,” PEG treasurer and board member Mark Newbold said in an email. “There is a great deal of media coverage, as well as proposed legislation at the state and federal level. We want to make sure you are getting a balanced perspective and science based data.”

The first free forum, “Part 1 – Law Enforcement and Bias” takes place via Zoom on Wednesday, May 19, beginning at 7 p.m. and features two experts from Washington State University’s College of Nursing — Dr. Lois James and Stephen James, Ph.D. The pair will explain the origins of bias, how the brain processes information, how to recognize implicit bias and how to safeguard biased decision making.

Lois James is assistant dean of research, focusing on bias, stress, sleep and performance in “high stress” populations such as police officers, military personnel, nurses and top-tier athletes. She is one of only a few research advisers for the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is internationally recognized as a leading expert in her field.

Stephen James is an assistant professor at WSU Health Sciences Spokane. His research focus includes the interaction between physical stressors such as sleep-related fatigue, law, policy, training and practice relating to operation performance for military and law enforcement personnel.

Both James’ have expertise in simulation-based technology, with Lois James serving as founding director of Counter Bias Training Simulation, a simulation-based implicit bias training program featured in several media presentations. Stephen James utilizes simulation technology to evaluate training and performance of military and law enforcement personnel.

The May 19 forum strives to show attendees that “if you have a brain, you have bias” and provide “insight into how to optimize public safety performance in ways that promote equity.”

The second forum, “Part 2 – Law Enforcement and Racial Justice” takes place Wednesday, June 9, beginning at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The forum will feature a panel composed of Spokane City Councilwoman Betsy Wilkerson, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Commissioner Kurtis S. Robinson, Bill Hyslop, former U.S. Attorney for Eastern Washington and Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl.

The forum will discuss the recommendations by the City of Spokane’s Use of Force Commission — formed following the Otto Zehm incident, progress towards implementing those reforms and what needs to be done going forward to improve racial and social justice in law enforcement.

To obtain Zoom links for both forums, visit http://www.pegnow.org.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].