Jack Hoban, President of Resolution Group International and a subject matter expert for the U.S. Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, advocates for a shift in policing culture from an "enforcer" to a "protector" mindset. Hoban, who co-created the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and has led over 600 workshops globally, shared his insights on transforming police culture, drawing from his extensive experience in martial arts and military training.

The Protector Mindset: Marine Corps Origins

Hoban's work with law enforcement is rooted in his experience with the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). MCMAP focuses on the holistic development of Marines, emphasizing mental, physical, and character aspects. The program aims to cultivate "ethical warriors" who are not just physically capable but also possess strong character, understanding that their presence should make others safer. This philosophy is exemplified by stories of Marines like Captain Brian Stan, who received a Silver Star for his actions during Operation Matador, embodying the values of honor, courage, and commitment.

The MCMAP methodology involves a blend of instruction and practical application, a "talk a little, train a little" approach designed to create synergy between moral behavior and thought. This method was notably showcased when Marine Sergeant Kelsey De Santis invited singer Justin Timberlake to the Marine Corps Ball, highlighting the program's impact.

From Counter-Insurgency to Community Policing

Hoban's transition to law enforcement training began after the September 11th attacks. While training Marines in counter-insurgency and "winning hearts and minds" methodologies at Quantico, the FBI expressed interest. Hoban briefed the FBI on these cross-cultural conflict resolution techniques, which were recognized as similar to community policing principles. This led to an engagement to train the newly reformed Camden County Police Department in Camden, New Jersey.

Camden had previously been disbanded due to a high crime rate, poor community relations, and cost overruns, making it one of America's most dangerous cities per capita. Hoban and his team applied their "win the hearts and minds" program to the entire department. The initiative resulted in an immediate decrease in crime, and Camden is now considered a model for community policing. Hoban noted a significant cultural shift when, on Halloween, children expressed a desire to emulate the new police officers, wanting to be like the officers they saw engaging in community policing on the streets.

The Core of the Protector Culture: Self-Concept and Respect

The fundamental difference, Hoban explained, lies in an officer's self-concept: are they primarily an enforcer or a protector? He stressed that while enforcing the law is necessary, the foundational self-concept is crucial. Under stress, an officer's true inner self emerges. The "protector culture" emphasizes self-respect and respect for all others, coupled with effective de-escalation techniques, such as Verbal Defense and Influence (VDI), an evolution of Verbal Judo.

Hoban shared a personal anecdote from his early Marine Corps days, where his self-concept was that of a "badass killer." This led him to project an aggressive demeanor. A mentor, Robert Humphrey, challenged this by asking him to adopt the mantra, "Wherever I go, everyone's a little safer because I'm there." This shift in self-concept, from aggressor to protector, profoundly impacted Hoban, making him feel safer and more effective.

This protector self-concept, Hoban argues, makes everyone safer, including the officer, and enhances the effectiveness of community policing by fostering trust and support from the public. Furthermore, literature on PTSD suggests that viewing oneself as a protector is psychologically healthier than as an enforcer.

The ethical foundation of the protector concept is respect for the life and human equality of others. This does not mean respecting their behavior or attitude, but rather the discipline to separate the relative value of a person's actions from the absolute value of their life. Hoban illustrated this by comparing relative values (height, intelligence, wealth) to the absolute value of life, asserting that no relative difference makes one life inherently worth more than another. This principle applies even to criminals, as mistreating them as sub-human is a greater offense than their crimes.

Hoban presented a story to illustrate values, morals, and ethics: a bully disrespecting another child represents a relative value (the bully's desire to disrespect) superseding a life value. Recognizing this as wrong is morality. Acting on it by telling a teacher is ethical behavior. Intervening physically to protect the victim, despite fear, demonstrates the makings of an ethical protector. He posited that all conflicts, from schoolyard bullying to the Holocaust, stem from relative values overriding life values, requiring courage to act.

Practical Application and Sustaining Change

Hoban emphasized that respecting life, even when not respecting behavior, is key to de-escalating conflict. Disrespecting a person's behavior is acceptable, but disrespecting them as a human being elicits a defensive reaction. He drew a parallel to parenting teenagers, where love for the child persists despite their often disrespectful behavior. Extending this capacity for unconditional regard to everyone is the challenge for professional protectors.

Addressing concerns that the "ethical protector" concept might make officers "soft" or tactically hesitant, Hoban used an analogy of a grizzly bear versus a mother bear protecting her cubs. He argued that protectors, even in nature, can be more dangerous than pure predators. This realization helped Marines and police officers overcome the fear that ethical conduct would diminish their tactical effectiveness.

The strategy for implementing this culture change involves:

• Top-down support: Ensuring buy-in from leadership at all levels.
• Mentor groups: Identifying and training respected officers to lead by example and foster the desired culture.
• Sustaining momentum: Employing methods beyond brief training sessions, such as constant reaffirmation of the protector self-concept, using stories to activate emotions, and brief tactical and verbal skill reviews during roll calls.

Hoban cited the training of the Toms River, New Jersey Police Department as another success. Unlike Camden, where they started with a blank slate, Toms River required changing the culture of an established department. This department also achieved significant success in community policing and support.

Personal Reflections and Broader Impact

Hoban concluded with a personal story about a stressful commute home and his initial angry reaction upon arriving. His mentor, Dr. Humphrey, guided him to understand that his negative emotional state had broken the joy and anticipation within his family. This reinforced the idea that a protector's presence should bring comfort and happiness, not stress.

He also shared images of Lance Corporal Tyler Troyer and Sergeant Raymond Plower, both Marines who died protecting others in Iraq, underscoring the ultimate sacrifice made by ethical protectors. Hoban urged the audience to remember his story and strive to be ethical protectors in their own lives, suggesting it leads to a better life, regardless of profession.

During the Q&A, Hoban addressed concerns about racism in policing, stating that while a three-day program can influence attitudes, a deeper, three-day immersion is more effective. He acknowledged that a small percentage of individuals are unsuitable for policing. He also discussed how shared adversity and leadership from the front can break down racial barriers, transforming individuals who initially held prejudiced views into strong proponents of inclusivity.

Regarding implementation challenges, Hoban stressed the necessity of creating a departmental culture that actively supports community policing and strong community relationships. He noted that departments sometimes send officers with behavioral issues to his programs, and while many are "rebooted," their reintegration into a negative culture often leads to regression.

Bill Buchanan, a former FBI agent, recalled Hoban's earlier presentation and inquired about the state of martial arts proficiency among FBI special agents. Hoban responded that he was less familiar with the FBI but noted that police departments often have defensive tactics instructors who are skilled fighters but may not effectively train those with less physical prowess. He emphasized the need for training that focuses on tactical maneuverability and self-defense for all officers, regardless of their physical strength.