Officers have a great deal of discretion as well in such matters as warning or arresting offenders. This calls for an officer who is emotionally mature and mentally able to deal with tremendous stress and process vague, inconsistent, and fragmented information in a matter of seconds. All of this leads to the discussion and need for emotional intelligence on the part of all law enforcement officers.

• Review Emotional intelligence in policing
• Review Understanding the benefits of emotional intelligence for officer growth and agency budgets
• Discuss the police officer's role in court.
  • What role does case preparation play in court?
  • What are some things to consider when preparing as a witness during direct and cross examination?
  • How would you prepare for court?