Joe Curmode would never have expected that doing improv would make him a better police officer.
But because of the University of Chicago鈥檚 Policing Leadership Academy, the Columbus Division of Police commander got the chance to learn improv from The Second City, a renowned improv-comedy club in Chicago.
Curmode referred to the improv experience as 鈥測oga for social skills鈥� and found it 鈥渋ncredibly intimidating and weird鈥� at first. But doing group improv exercises quickly became the highlight of the academy for him.
鈥淚t was just fantastic learning how to think on your feet,鈥� Curmode said.
Curmode traveled to Chicago and attended the academy in weekly sessions from January to May. He met officers from around the country, from Miami to L.A. to a Native American reservation. The officers still have a group chat where they exchange advice and ask questions.
The academy, which is run by the University of Chicago's Crime Lab, is focused on data-driven decision-making to combat violent crime and improve community relations. It also teaches officers how to create policy and procedures that promote officer wellness.
Curmode and the other officers got to hear from a wide range of guest speakers, from experts in AI to crisis communication to police chief leadership. All of the lessons were backed up by science and data.
鈥淚f it were me, I鈥檇 send every single commander I know that works in the Columbus Division of Police and in central Ohio to this school,鈥� Curmode said.
Everyone at the policing academy completed a capstone project, which for Curmode was a continuation of his domestic violence co-responder project ACT DV. In this program, advocates responded to scenes of intimate partner domestic violence and provided resources immediately, rather than weeks or months later.
Curmode said he learned several skills and found new resources to improve the pilot project of ACT DV.