Founded in 2015 by Linda Webb and Randy Friedman, RITE Academy (Racial Intelligence Training & Engagement) was born out of Love. Linda’s Love for all that law enforcement stands for in her heart, as a retired police officer; and Randy’s Love for helping others increase their own awareness for unlimited good, personally and professionally.
Linda Webb – Dedicating her life to civil service, law enforcement, and fighting fraud for over 35+ years, has been a life-long passion for Linda Webb. Her law enforcement career involved patrol, morals unit, selective enforcement unit (working with vice), police motorcyclist, dive rescue, detective, and master police academy instructor (teaching ethics and professionalism). Ms. Webb has taught over 20 diverse police courses, and designed multiple nationally recognized “train-the-trainer” police programs currently being used today.
As one of the foremost fraud-fighting leaders in the country, Ms. Webb was Assistant Vice President of AIG’s Global Fraud Unit, as well as a private contractor for the federal government, fighting Medicare fraud. She is the past President of a nationwide fraud investigative company employing over 120 personnel, which she helped to build from the ground floor. Read more…
Randy Friedman – As Co-founder of the RITE Academy, Randy Friedman molded her athletics, mental toughness, and corporate training together, to help bring Racial Intelligence to law enforcement. As a certified Social+Emotional Intelligence Coach and her 25+ years in corporate and sports training, Ms. Friedman teaches with a unique perspective that helps educate public service professionals enhance their communication skill-set, on and off the job.
Ms. Friedman has taught, coached, and mentored top CEO Executives, and civic leaders in the community. As a top executive in public relations and brand marketing, she understands the importance of upholding a positive image, as well preserving respect in the community. Read more…
Racial Intelligence brings cultural diversity training up to today’s standards. Officers learn how to improve themselves (personally) and ways to understand and improve their implicit bias and internal communication. RITE teaches tools and techniques that improve the officer’s communication on the front line, to help them De-escalate calls, as well as helping to improve departmental accountability standards.
Look who’s Talking
“One of the key things I got out of this, was even though you may have a bad start, you’ve had a bad day, you’re “low on the ladder” and you realize that your interaction is not going well… you can stop, you can rethink, you can apologize for how you just acted or just correct yourself… It’s not too late, you can always de-escalate.” ~ Chief Rob Hicks, Leesburg Police Dept. FL
“The Rite program is a timely program especially in today’s society, and what we are facing as a profession. It provides skills to help officers become more aware of not just what’s in front of them, but what’s inside of them. I highly recommend this program.” ~ Sgt. Fred Jones, Lake County Sheriff’s Office FL
“Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place. The seed has been planted, let’s water it.” ~ Captain Trent Conard, Gastonia Police Dept. NC
“The most informative training I’ve ever received. It’s actually something that can be used in my everyday life, and it came at a time when I needed it most.” ~ Officer Shaunda Wilson, NIU, IL
Videos speak Volumes
RITE in the News
COPS and their Feelings – The Philadelphia Citizen
PHILADELPHIA – Chitwood says that after rigorous research, Upper Darby selected Orlando-based RITE Academy (Racial Intelligence Training & Engagement) to teach racial and cultural sensitivity and deescalation techniques to six officers—three captains, two detectives, and a sergeant—who are then charged with training all of Upper Darby’s more than 125 cops. Read more…
Framingham State University offers ‘bias response’ training for employees
FRAMINGHAM, MA — After reading about RITE Academy earlier this year, Santoro said he proposed bringing the company to Framingham this week to ensure officers handle future episodes with sensitivity.
The lessons aimed to help campus police better understand their own biases and improve their interactions with the public. The sessions were also open to FSU faculty and staff, drawing more than 175 participants over the course of two days. Read more…
Charleston police plan to improve race relations, includes Racial Intelligence
When Charleston PD Training Commander, Chris Johnson called RITE last January he said, “we have a very pro-active Chief and department, and RITE training fits our needs.” Two months later, five officers became certified as Trainers in Racial Intelligence, in order to roll it out to their entire department.
Some thought this was the same old cultural diversity class they’d have to take back and “brow-beat” their officers with. They quickly learned, this course is about building officers, not breaking them. Read more…
