Wounds run deep following the decision not to charge police officers in the shooting death of Jamar Clark. They come atop much scar tissue built up through years of painful incidents that seem to inspire too much talk and too little real change.

What is needed to break that cycle are tangible proposals to reduce officer-involved violence — ones backed by resources and, most important, developed in conjunction with the community. Some reforms are in the works, but the Minneapolis Police Department should include the citizenry in a meaningful way, update the public regularly on its progress, choose priorities carefully and be candid about the resources needed.

Above all else should come a strong, ongoing emphasis on crisis-intervention training. To conclude that no crime was committed in the Clark shooting is not to deny that it raises questions about how such tragedies might be prevented. Incredibly, despite all the tensions and heartaches over decades, before this year only 15 percent of city officers were trained specifically in ways to deal with people in crisis, which covers a large portion of their 911 calls. The department has said that by the end of this year, all officers responding to such calls will have received 40 hours of training conducted by mental-health professionals. Such training is standard in Wisconsin for every police recruit and should be the norm here, not just in Minneapolis but across the state.

Martin Dapkin, a recently retired Wisconsin justice official who helped develop that state's crisis management training manual, said that "experience has simply proven that the outcomes are better" when such techniques are used. And the definition of a person in crisis should be broad. The Wisconsin manual emphasizes: "People who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs are people in crisis." That has direct bearing on police interactions, because, the manual states, "when a person is in a full crisis state, the ability to listen, comprehend and focus may be as little as 5 percent of normal."

Departments across the country are looking for ways to move officers away from a "warrior" mind-set toward one of public servant and guardian. To that end, the Minneapolis Police Department should be transparent and detailed about the type of crisis training its officers are receiving, its cost, plans for recurring training and how it will send the message that officers are expected to use such techniques whenever possible. Mayor Betsy Hodges and Chief Janeé Harteau, in a recent meeting with community leaders, apologized for the numerous items in a 2003 federal mediation agreement that were never implemented.

As part of a commitment to limiting lethal force, the department should move quickly to train and equip the remaining 40 percent of its officers who have not been issued Tasers or similar devices. Officers Mark Ringgenberg and Dustin Schwarze lacked Tasers when they approached Jamar Clark. No one can know whether that equipment would have made a difference, but police need options short of lethal force. The department and community should develop guidelines to govern their use. The devices can be harmful if used improperly, but U.S. Department of Justice studies also show that they have resulted in lower rates of injuries among both suspects and officers.

Lastly, while department officials say they already have reviewed policies and training, they should consider an assessment that focuses specifically on the use of force, this time with significant community input. It is not enough to say the takedown technique used in the Clark incident by Ringgenberg was "not favored." The only mention of takedowns in the MPD use-of-force guidelines requires that officers file a report, but a takedown "does not require supervisor notification." Such notification could provide a moment for officer and supervisor to review an incident and consider whether an alternative could have been employed.

None of this could ever mean that there will be no future tragedies like the Clark shooting. The goal is to make them as rare as possible, for the community to have some stake in the policies and for officers to be given the broadest range of tools for keeping the public safe.