WPD leading the state in science-based policing

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Science-based interviewing involves active listening and building rapport. Wichita police say they started using this newer method in about 2015 and are continuing to implement new changes.

Kansas is one of two states in the country that teach officers science-based policing.

“It’s the act of listening, said Captain Cory. “It’s the rapport building, the understanding, the empathy, all that it pairs perfectly with it.”

Capitan Christian Cory says the training starts with their rookies and is used by everyone up to crisis negotiators… for homicide and sexual assault investigations.

“It’s about finding better investigative methods. It’s about community trust. It’s about competency of investigators being professional investigators. More information.”

Criminal justice professor at Wichita State, Dr. Michael Birzer, says policing has changed over the years.

“We started looking at what they were doing in psychology, primarily cognitive psychology and some of the other behavioral sciences and criminology. And, you know, that’s when we began to discover that the old methods of interviewing that were based primarily on getting a confession and just that they were causing a lot of wrongful confessions,” said said Dr. Birzer.

Captain Cory says this science-based policing is the future.

“Investigations are, at their core, about information. So, if you’re using an information strategy that gets you more quality and quantity of information, that’s a win-win.”

One of the latest updates to science-based policing is the new interview room. It’s been updated to make crime victims comfortable and give the most accurate information.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.