Taming the Serpent: How Neuroscience Can Revolutionize Modern Law Enforcement Training

by Michael G. Malpass

Law enforcement has been increasingly under fire in the media for what we believe is unnecessary police violence. But few have suggestions as to what we can do about it.

There is a noticeable gap between the way officers are trained and how the brain processes information in the stressful and risky situations which police work. Training arguably no longer prepares our officers for how to effectively deal with these situations.

But with advancements in neuroscience, we could finally have the answer. We can guide modern training for better decision-making and performance under life-threatening stress and pressure – for the good of police officers and the public.

Taming the Serpent brings the research about neuroscience and law enforcement together, showing how we can revolutionise modern law enforcement.

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2019

Reviews

[Mo Stump · Rating 1 out of 5]

The absolute nicest thing I can say about this book is that it shouldn't have been published, no less used in academia. It is littered with fallacious arguments, misrepresentations, mistruths, and sources that wouldn't be acceptable in a first-year English composition course. The author's website lists his credentials to write a book on neuroscience as his 24-year law enforcement career, tactical SWAT training, and his development of various law enforcement training programs. Notably absent is any educational history. Particularly any that would qualify him with the expertise, experience, or knowledge required to write a book on the integration of neuroscience into law enforcement training.

If you want to read a book that reaffirms your world-view, is palatable to your echo chamber, and is painfully dishonest either in ignorance or intent, this is certainly for you.

[Kiley Dix · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok. It's more stories from his career than anything (this is what I did, this is the experience I had).
Mindfulness, which is talked about extensively, is not the same thing as neuroscience.
Learning how the brain works is something anyone can learn, taking it to a neuroscience level is something totally different. This book isn't it.
It gets repetitive. I'm 12 chapters in and keep waiting for the "we'll discuss this more later" part.

While there needs to be updated training that focuses on mindfulness, this book has some good ideas.
They are not based in neuroscience, however.

EDIT: The book is 286 pages. I'm not sure why this listing has it as 245.