Applying Crew Resource Management Principles to Police Work

An airplane crash in 1977, the most lethal in aviation history, prompted research by NASA into the causes of aviation accidents (Hagen, 2013). This, in turn, led to the development of training procedures known as “crew resource management” or CRM. This training focused on communication, leadership, and how to make the best possible decisions when time is short and the stakes are high (Helmreich, Merritt, & Wilhelm, 2001). Police departments should incorporate the principles and techniques of crew resource management when training police officers and supervisors to work as a team during high stress incidents.