The death of George Floyd in 2020 brought the duty to intervene to the forefront of discussions about law enforcement reform. The worldwide outcry underscored the importance of ensuring officers step in to prevent misconduct or excessive force, not as an exception but as an integral part of policing culture.
The recent Lexipol webinar, “The Duty to Intervene — What We Have Learned Since George Floyd,” explores the transformative power of intervention, emphasizing its role as a leadership tool, a cultural pillar, and a legal mandate.
Panelists included:
- Chief (Ret.) Michael Ranalli, Market Development Manager, Lexipol
- Chief Ken Wallentine, Chief of Police, West Jordan (UT) Police Department; Senior Legal Adviser, Lexipol
- Laura Scarry, Partner, DeAno and Scarry
Here, we delve into three important lessons from the webinar, bolstered by the panelists’ insights, to help guide law enforcement officers and agencies in embracing intervention and embedding it into their organizational ethos.
1. Using intervention as a leadership tool
One key point made by Chief (Ret.) Mike Ranalli is that intervention is not just about preventing specific incidents — rather, it’s about taking responsibility for the profession as a whole. “This is about taking charge of our profession and creating a culture where intervention is the norm, not the exception,” he states. Ranalli emphasizes that leaders must set the tone by prioritizing intervention and empowering individual team members to act without fear of reprisal.
Leaders must integrate intervention into daily operations and ensure officers feel supported in taking action when necessary. Ranalli points to the importance of fostering a mindset that sees intervention as a shared responsibility, saying, “It’s not about pointing fingers. It’s about being fail-safes for each other, ensuring that mistakes don’t escalate into catastrophes.”
This proactive approach begins with leadership but requires buy-in from all levels of an organization. It’s critical to train supervisors to model intervention and create an environment where taking initiative is celebrated rather than stigmatized. “Supervisors must make it clear that their teams will be supported when they do the right thing, even in challenging situations,” Ranalli explains.
2. Building a culture of accountability
Chief Ken Wallentine expanded on the broader implications of intervention, stressing how it goes beyond use-of-force incidents to encompass all facets of ethical policing. “Culture is what we tolerate on one end and reward on the other,” Wallentine remarks. “It’s up to leaders to intentionally build a system that supports intervention.”
Wallentine emphasizes the important notion that a culture of accountability must be cultivated by design, not by default. In the discussion, he shares how his department partnered with the ABLE (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement) program to train officers in proactive intervention strategies. “The program teaches officers to ask themselves, ‘What if?’ in every scenario,” he says, explaining how this mindset encourages vigilance and promotes accountability.
Wallentine also notes the importance of rewarding intervention as a way to embed it into the fabric of an agency. “We praise and celebrate examples of intervention,” he says. “Recognizing these moments reinforces that accountability is not punitive — it’s essential to maintaining integrity.”
Accountability is also integral to providing transparency with the community. Wallentine explains, “When agencies engage the public in their policies and practices, it builds trust and reduces resistance to change.” This approach fosters mutual respect and demonstrates a commitment to ethical policing.
3. Legal and ethical frameworks
Attorney Laura Scarry provides critical insights into the legal implications of failing to intervene, highlighting how officers can face criminal, civil and administrative consequences for inaction when another officer’s behavior crosses the line. “Officers can be held accountable for failing to intercede when it is clear someone’s constitutional rights are being violated,” Scarry emphasizes.
Scarry explains the legal standards governing the duty to intervene, particularly under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. To hold an officer liable, she notes, plaintiffs must prove that the officer:
- Knew someone’s rights were being violated.
- Had a realistic opportunity to intervene.
- Failed to act.
She cautions: “This isn’t just about use-of-force incidents. It applies to any scenario where misconduct occurs, from falsified reports to unlawful searches.”
A recurring theme in Scarry’s contributions to the discussion is the importance of comprehensive training. She notes training must equip officers to recognize violations, assess intervention opportunities and act effectively. “For intervention to work,” she explains, “officers need the skills to evaluate situations quickly and the confidence that they will be supported when they step in.”
Scarry also emphasizes the role of policy in guiding officers’ actions, pointing to the importance of clear, enforceable policies that outline when and how officers should intervene. “Policies aren’t just a legal safeguard — they’re a moral compass that guides behavior,” she says. By grounding intervention in both legal standards and ethical principles, agencies can create a framework that supports accountability at every level.
Creating a path forward
The duty to intervene is more just than a legal obligation — it’s a cultural imperative, a leadership strategy and an ethical cornerstone of modern law enforcement. To embed intervention into their practices, agencies should:
- Empower leaders to lead by example: Above all, leadership must champion intervention as a professional standard. Supervisors should model the behavior they expect and provide their teams with the tools and support they need to act decisively.
- Celebrate accountability: Recognizing and rewarding examples of intervention normalizes the practice and reinforces a culture where accountability is a primary value. Publicly acknowledging these actions sends a clear message that intervention is expected and encouraged.
- Invest in training and policy development: Agencies must provide training that equips officers with the skills and confidence to intervene effectively. In addition, comprehensive policies should clarify expectations and offer clear guidance on how to handle complex scenarios.
- Engage the community: Transparency builds trust. By involving community stakeholders in policy discussions and demonstrating a commitment to ethical policing, agencies can foster stronger, more positive relationships with members of the public.
Redefining intervention as a pillar of policing
The lessons from George Floyd’s death and other high-profile incidents are clear: Intervention is not optional — it’s essential. As Chief Ranalli notes, “Every member of this profession has a role to play in ensuring accountability. It starts with us.” By using intervention as a leadership tool, building a culture of accountability and grounding their practices in strong legal and ethical frameworks, law enforcement agencies can move closer to their goal of protecting and serving with integrity.
As Wallentine aptly states, “We will end up with a culture one way or the other. The question is, will it be by default or by design?” The answer lies in our collective willingness to prioritize intervention and embrace it as a cornerstone of ethical policing.
