Captain Brent Chisolm on Emotional Intelligence in Law Enforcement | Warren Police Department

In this powerful excerpt from TalentSmartEQ’s recent law enforcement webinar, Captain Brent Chisolm of the Warren Police Department shares a compelling inside look at how emotional intelligence (EQ) is transforming the culture of policing.

Captain Chisolm candidly reflects on the patterns he observed during internal reviews of officer complaints and use-of-force incidents—revealing how the root cause was rarely intentional misconduct, but often a momentary lapse in emotional control. This realization led him and a handpicked team to become certified trainers with TalentSmartEQ, launching a department-wide initiative to improve officers’ self-awareness and decision-making under pressure.

He discusses how EQ training is being integrated into annual professional development for all sworn officers. More than a class, the program is a cultural shift—empowering officers to talk about emotions, reduce harmful suppression, and apply their EQ skills not just on duty, but at home with their families.

Captain Chisolm underscores how EQ can help reduce risk, improve outcomes, and strengthen relationships on and off the job.

“If we told you that we were going to give you a strategy… to prevent one bad use of force, one termination, one lawsuit, one divorce, or one officer suicide—why wouldn’t you try it?”

Learn more about our EQ solutions for law enforcement.