Re “Man shot, killed by federal agents in Minneapolis” (Jan. 25): The Department of Homeland Security urgently needs to enroll its agents in the training program “Communicate to De-escalate” mentioned in Steven P. Dinkin’s article (Jan. 25). It contrasts the “survivor brain” that, in challenging situations, relies on angry, aggressive behavior triggered by fear with an alternative “learning brain” that aims to de-escalate with empathy and restore harmony. This article appeared one day after federal agents shot and killed a 37-year-old U.S. citizen whose only crime was attempting to render aid to a woman being pepper-sprayed on a street in Minneapolis. Perhaps if the federal agents had spent more training time learning about how to act with civility rather than how to deploy tear gas and flash bangs into crowds of peaceful protesters, Alex Pretti and Renée Good might both be alive today.
— Kathleen Butterstein, San Diego