Michigan Legislation Would Require More Training for Law Enforcement Officers
“They will now be required to finish a training course in order to keep their licenses in law enforcement – meaning they could lose them otherwise.”
POAM is reposting this story from FOX 2 (WJBK) — A big change coming for Michigan’s police officers. They will now be required to finish a training course in order to keep their licenses in law enforcement – meaning they could lose them otherwise.
The change comes with a $20 million investment in mandatory police education. Warren Police Commissioner and former Farmington Hills Police Chief Bill Dwyer say it’s a good move.
Once you graduate from the police academy, and you are certified by MCOLES, a lot of departments have no ongoing training now,” said Dwyer. “Other departments such as Farmington Hills or Warren, we have ongoing training through the year in many different areas, including bias training and force training.
MCOLES is the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, a board composed of numerous police bosses, officers, and civilians. Sources say it’s working on the standards for the licenses to be maintained.
Well it’s a good start, said Detroit activist Malik Shabazz.
Shabazz has long called for police reform and welcomes the change, particularly after the shocking beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of several Memphis Police officers, one of the latest incidents renewing national calls for police reform.
I looked at Tyre Nichols. I cried,” Shabazz said. “Who can’t cry seeing that? And the man is calling out for his mother. We are sick of this. This goes on daily in our country.
Jim Tignanelli is the president of the Police Officers Association of Michigan, the state’s largest police officer’s union.
I’m happy. Yes. I’m glad that they’ve taken this initiative, he said.
He says the $20 million in funding will be limited as it’s divided up amongst Michigan’s officers.
Many in the field want even more money invested. But he says he’s also concerned about who provides that extra training.
My main concern is who instructs it? Tignanelli said. I don’t think it has to be exclusively law enforcement people because people will say that’s tainted.
That $20 million will be dispersed based on the size and the number of full-time officers in various police departments.
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