News

Police Reform Training Update

Under the reforms of HB 3653 (PA 101-652) there are several additions to the general in-service mandates required of all experienced officers. With these, we expect the new list of mandates to reflect the list below (new items are underlined).

At this time, staff is reviewing the master list of available MTU courses to determine if any existing classes meet the new mandates, and if none qualify, the Board will create guidelines for new courses to be offered at the MTU level. These will incorporate the changes to the use of force standards and new training specifications. As before, all MTU and Executive Institute courses will be tracked for each participating officer and these records will be available to demonstrate completion and compliance. Administrative Rules for these provisions are currently being drafted that will provide clear guidance as to how courses will be credited and tracked.

Additionally, the Board is working with the Executive Institute to present additional viewings of special trainings related specifically to the reforms of the SAFE-T Act to help chiefs, sheriffs, and administrators navigate the changes of this legislation. With these measures, we believe that the structure will be in place to present officers with ample opportunities to meet the initial annual and tri-annual deadlines of July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2024 respectively.

One issue to be addressed is the new requirement that certain topics must be presented for a specific length of time. For courses that address these topics, the Board is considering stand alone, whole day, courses that will complete the requirement, or alternatively, breaking down these topics into other courses that would require completion of several courses before the requirement is met. At this time, we are scheduling a series of meetings with the MTU directors, department heads, and other stakeholders. We intend to host a Special Subject Matter Meeting of the Curriculum Committee to discuss the progress made in these areas in the upcoming weeks.

Please check back to this website frequently as we anticipate other updates to be shared here before our June Quarterly Board meetings. For an overview of the SAFE-T Act and the Board’s analysis of specific sections addressing implementation presented in March of 2021, click here.

Minimum in-service training requirements, which a police officer must satisfactorily complete at least annually. Those requirements shall include courses addressing:

1. law updates
2. emergency medical response
3. crisis intervention
4. officer wellness and mental health

Mandatory training to be completed every 3 years. The training shall consist of at least 30 hours of training, at least 12 hours of hands-on, scenario-based role-playing, every 3 years and shall include:

1. At least 6 hours of instruction on use of force techniques, including the use of de-escalation techniques to prevent or reduce the need for force whenever safe and feasible.
2. At least 6 hours of training focused on high-risk traffic stops.
3. Specific training on the law concerning stops, searches, and the use of force under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
4. Specific training on officer safety techniques, including cover, concealment, and time.
5. Cultural competency, including implicit bias and racial and ethnic sensitivity.
6. Constitutional and proper use of law enforcement authority.
7. Procedural justice.
8. Civil rights.
9. Human rights.
10. Trauma informed response to sexual assault.
11. Reporting child abuse and neglect.
12. The psychology of domestic violence (change from 5 years to 3 years for consistency).