This 1960s film by the Alberta Human Resources Research Council and University of Alberta / Dr. Robert Carkhuff, with the City of Edmonton Police Department, titled “Empathy in Police Work,” highlights best practices in police interactions (empathy how-to) through four acted scenes: “Barricaded Man” (0:25–7:40), “Suicide” (7:40–17:50), “Family Quarrel” (17:50–25:05), and “Street” (25:05–27:54). The film consists primarily of back-and-forth conversations between individuals in distress and uniformed policemen in private homes. Official summary: This film portrays three crisis situations, each with a different emotional tone. When the police officer or corrections worker is able to establish dialogue with the distressed person, he is able to assist that person through exploration as a key to developing trust and rapport with a distressed person.
Police officer in car responds to dispatch (0:12). Title sequence, 1960s police car driving on roads: “Empathy in Police Work,” written by L. Craig Parker and Samuel J. Koplowicz (0:15). Police car pulls to curb near fallen man in suburban front yard, rush to victim (0:25). 1960s uniformed policeman knocks on suburban front door (0:50). Neighbor tends injured man, policeman watching, more police (1:15). Uniformed policemen speak near door (1:45). Policeman converses with aggressive drunk white man alone in suburban house behind closed door, poker, drinks on table (“why don’t you leave me alone!”); man paces alone at home, lights cigarette (2:20). Policeman in front of house door, attempting to communicate, narrator explains failure to empathize (6:05). “Empathy = Dialogue”(7:05). Empathetic policeman and aggressor behind door dialogue (7:10). White police car pulls to curb in suburbia, construction visible behind (7:40). Policemen exit car, enter side door of house (basement) (7:55). Two police officers knock on door, no answer, enter house to find drunk man, small 1960s suburban house (8:23). Policeman checks on intoxicated man on couch, other searches kitchen (8:40). Officer takes out notebook, asks questions about previous incident (9:30). Policeman exits room leaving other officer and man together; policeman removes cap, sits with drunk man (10:15). Intoxicated white man sits on couch near family picture, ashtray, converses with thoughtful policeman (10:25). Scared, depressed man shakes head, drinks, depression, cries, coughs (10:43). Policeman rests chin on head, listening, speaks softly (compassion) (12:09). Depressed young white male closes eyes, leans back with cathartic expression (12:35). White man in T-shirt covers face with hand, speaks slowly, emotional (14:05). Man sips beer, cries, wipes tears (14:30). Close-up: man’s fist curling and releasing (15:10). Replay of interactions, narrator highlights empathetic vs. interrogative behavior by police (16:20). Police car pulls up to glass door in parking lot, two police officers exit vehicle, enter building, knock (17:50). White women in short plaid dress answers door intercom, lights cigarette, takes a drag nervously (18:25). Anxious 1960s housewife lets policeman into house, drunk husband (18:45). Officers close-up (19:16). Aggressive 1960s husband (balding, middle-aged) yells at wife in house with police present, husband hits wife in face before officers restrain him and pull them apart; wife cries with other officer (domestic violence, marital violence) (19:20). Police officers lead spouses apart, angry husband (19:45). Young policeman removes hat, sits with crying housewife (20:05). Husband continues yelling in domestic violence situation with officers looking on; husband smokes cigarette while talking to police (20:15). Policeman sits with aggressive husband at kitchen table, removes hat, listens intently as husband explains, wine shelf visible behind (20:45). Emotional woman cries, speaks to young police officer on couch at home (21:44, 23:30). Policeman speaks softly to man in kitchen (24:10). Narrator explains importance of separating combatants in a fight and letting them unwind (replayed scenes) (25:05). 1960s uniformed police officer sitting and speaking outside in park or garden (26:50). Young black man with afro and colorful hat and shirt sitting in park (27:15).
End credits (27:54). Alberta Human Resources Research Council.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
