I work with teens Michael Brown's age and the number one rule is

[truth2power]

77. adigal..I wish I could rec your post more than once. You are absolutely correct

in your advice concerning adolescents.

I also work with adolescents. They are a joy to work with. Really! But it's important to understand that their brains are not finished.

In general, the amygdala, part of the limbic system of the brain, is not fully functional until early adulthood, some time around the early 20's. Adolescents' ability to see the consequences of their actions is not fully developed; nor is their ability to accurately perceive and interpret the emotions of others.

The advice you have offered for interacting with adolescents is true - defuse, use calm talk, humor (when appropriate), and be respectful. I would add one more...be matter-of-fact in the words you use when talking to them. It's been my experience that anyone who escalates an encounter with an adolescent will rue the day.

Darren Wilson is a racist bully. As such, when encountering Michael Brown he possessed no people-skills whatsoever, other than to beat Michael senseless (or dead), either with words or actions. He then, IMO, made up a narrative out of whole cloth to mask his guilt. He should never have been accepted onto the force, never mind let loose on the street with a firearm.

As a society, it's time we understood that "policing" involves more than beating or killing. Junk the MRAPs and other military materiel and use the money saved to train potential officers in human development and a basic understanding of various mental illnesses.

Policing with a human face. Imagine that!