Detroit Community Says No to Psychologist Dave Grossman and "Killology" Appearance

April 27, 2021

Army Veteran Dave Grossman, director of the Illinois-based Killology Research Group, pictured here in a 2018 training seminar, was scheduled to speak in Novi, but after critics protested, the presentation was canceled.

A controversial police trainer will have to find enough common ground with his vocal metro Detroit critics before he’s allowed to keep any local speaking engagement.

Oak Pointe Church in Novi canceled "killology" expert Dave Grossman's May 26-27 appearance at the church after a robust phone, email and social media campaign.

"Our mission of 'making disciples to know Jesus and make Him known' is not in line with one of the speakers in question," the church said in an April 26 statement. "Even though this was not a church event, we are responsible for what we host in our building and therefore endorse."

Metro Detroiters who voiced their concerns regarding book author Grossman were relieved.

“(With) what our country is going through right now, does he really need to have seminars on how to kill without remorse, without conscience?” argued Vicki Ashby, a Northville Township resident. “This is not what we need right now.”

Facebook groups including Livonia Citizens Caring About Black Lives and Crime Watch Livonia kept the debate – and protests – intense for a good 24 hours.

Some members took their protests to Oak Pointe Church, upset that a church would host a speaker they say is helping officers use lethal force.

Church officials began talking to the organizer, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, and, soon, the event was canceled.

“If it’s a concern to them, it’s a concern to us,” said Robert Stevenson, MACP’s executive director and Livonia’s former police chief. “We don’t want to put the church in a bad position. I don’t want anybody in a bad position. We’d prefer to see if there’s common ground there.”

He said he had never heard such criticism raised against Grossman. He and other association officials had invited Grossman to speak to police officers because of the post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide rates that can accompany police work. About 100 had signed up to attend.

Sitting on the board of the police chiefs association, Livonia Police Chief Curtis Caid received messages of protest and was somewhat surprised by the outcry.

“I’ve heard over the years good reviews,” said Caid, who never heard the term “killology” until recently. “He is highly respected in the field and has been for a number of years.”

Caid's understanding was that Grossman’s training was supposed to be about the physiological and emotional outcome of using and dealing with lethal force.

“They’re in a position that is highly stressful (and) highly traumatic,” Caid said of police officers. “Their recovery is certainly critical to the service of the community.”

Grossman touts himself as “a former West Point psychology professor, professor of military science, and an Army Ranger.” He has authored the books “On Killing,” “On Combat,” and “Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill.” He also has talked about the psychology of killing on podcasts.

He avowed that critics are focusing on a few shreds from his teachings instead of bigger messages like the importance of breathing exercises, staying calm, and mindfulness to reduce violence.

"Killology is not about teaching people to kill," Grossman said during a phone interview. "It's not even on the menu. It's about understanding the factors enabling restraint killings in society and how people respond to life and death events."

MACP officials are willing to schedule another speaking engagement if critics can be appeased. Yet Grossman said that he’s more interested in people reading his books and scholarly works than visiting metro Detroit to pacify critics.

That’s fine by Livonia residents Lucky Sparkman and John Hillers, who protested Grossman’s visit to Oak Pointe.

“I don’t think that this is an appropriate person to be training police for anything,” Sparkman said. “There are a lot better and more qualified speakers who could come talk about either the suicide prevention or the de-escalation tactics.

“There’s a lot better use of resources than promoting someone who has the belief system that this man does.”

Hillers was expecting to protest outside Oak Pointe if Grossman was allowed to make an appearance. He also was going to continue a social media campaign.

“I don’t believe agents of the state should have the willingness to kill its citizens,” Hillers said. “I understand accepting diverse opinions but not all opinions are valid. Saying that you should enjoy killing is not a valid opinion that we should tolerate.”

In its statement, Oak Pointe officials focused on this statement from Grossman during an online seminar: “Any natural or learned resistance to killing, any sense of the sanctity of human life, any human emotions, any remorse or compassion at the moment of truth can all be overcome and overwhelmed with training.”

"Because of this statement and other elements of Lt. Col. Grossman’s teachings, we cannot welcome him as a speaker at Oak Pointe Church," church officials said. "We appreciate everyone who has expressed concerns about the content of this event, so that we could investigate it further and make a decision that better reflects the values of Oak Pointe Church."

Source: Susan Vela, "Police chief group, Novi church cancel controversial 'killology' police trainer speaking engagement," Hometownlife.com, Apr. 27, 2021, URL: https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/2021/04/27/protesters-rally-against-killology-police-trainer-event/7391319002/