West Virginia became the first state in the nation to implement a statewide program to provide emotional intelligence (EQ) training from TalentSmartEQ, the world’s premier provider of emotional intelligence training and development, to more than 4,500 law enforcement officers. Known as Project EQ, the groundbreaking initiative equips police officers with essential emotional intelligence skills to improve community interactions and decision-making under pressure, while fostering a culture of empathy and resilience within police departments and the communities they serve.
The West Virginia Law Enforcement Initiative: Project EQ is the first-of-its-kind, marking the culmination of years of planning and collaboration between TalentSmartEQ, MountainState ESC and local law enforcement agencies. The program went from concept to reality this year with the support of Senator Joe Manchin, who was instrumental in helping secure $892,000 in funding as part of a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) Request within the 2023 Federal Omnibus Appropriations package. This ensured that every police officer across the state of West Virginia would receive emotional intelligence training.
Project EQ teaches essential skills including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management, all helping officers recognize and manage their own emotions and better perceive and respond to the emotions of others. The training delivers practical tools tailored for specific challenges faced by police officers, including stress management, conflict resolution, effective communication and empathy development. Officers gain hands-on EQ training through role-playing scenarios, real-life case studies and use of an emotional intelligence assessment. These skills are critical when facing high-pressure situations requiring quick, empathetic and effective responses.
“West Virginia’s government, community and law enforcement leaders are already seeing results from our investment in emotional intelligence training,” said Errol Randle, retired 25-year police veteran and strategic director of law enforcement for the Mountain State Educational Services Cooperative. “We’ve experienced a significant reduction in both use of force incidents and misconduct complaints among officers. This marks a revolutionary chapter in history, where emotional intelligence training is the spark to improving citizen interactions and police-community relations.”
Emotional intelligence bridges the gap between police officers and the communities they serve by promoting mutual respect, understanding and trust — critical skills that officers can put to use right away, both on the job and at home. Dr. Gregory Campbell, TalentSmartEQ trainer and vice president of law enforcement and government, and former law enforcement agent with more than 25 years as a federal agent, knows the benefits of emotional intelligence first-hand.
“We are already seeing results as law enforcement gains the skills to manage their own emotions while understanding and empathizing with others. Officers are better equipped to de-escalate heated situations for improved outcomes,” said Dr. Campbell. “The high level of performance that law enforcement officers demonstrate daily, in dangerous situations, takes a toll. ProjectEQ not only enhances job performance, but builds healthier homes by reducing conflict, reactive emotions and the divorce rate within the police force.”
This initiative not only enhances the capabilities of law enforcement officers, but also strengthens community trust. With West Virginia leading the way, the state sets a powerful example for other states to follow. TalentSmartEQ is also working with police departments in Louisiana, Texas, California and Colorado, to name a few, with a goal of making emotional intelligence training a standard component of officer academies and continuing education programs.
TalentSmart’s emotional intelligence training program is available to law enforcement agencies nationally. In addition, 13 prisons across the country are piloting TalentSmart’s emotional intelligence training for inmates, working to create a system of respect, understanding and empathy across law enforcement and correctional facilities to address the high rate of incarceration and recidivism from all sides.
For more information, please visit http://www.talentsmarteq.com/.
About TalentSmart
Founded in 2002, TalentSmartEQ®, Inc. is the world’s premier provider of emotional intelligence. More than 75% of the Fortune 500 companies rely on TalentSmartEQ’s products and services. The organization’s cutting-edge assessments are easy to use, based on rigorous research, and include their proprietary e-learning and Goal-Tracking System™. TalentSmartEQ’s training programs and coaching services ensure new skills are applied immediately, and their #1 best-selling, award-winning book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0, is a groundbreaking addition to the application of EQ in the workplace.