Yavapai County law enforcement leaders will soon join thousands of police officers across the country focused on changing how officers are seen on the job and the way they see themselves. Get new training.
This fall, the Yavapai College Justice Institute received a $29,455 federal grant to fund a year of peace officer training through the national nonprofit Police2Peace.
Former Prescott Police Chief Gerald Monaghan, who is now director of the university’s justice administration program, launched earlier this year a school justice program designed to foster dialogue between law enforcement professionals and local residents. I worked hard to establish the research institute.
Monahan said that when he was first introduced to Police2Peace, he felt like he had finally found the positive message of reform he was looking for.
“In my 42 years of experience, this is a positive police reform message that I believe has the power to increase sustainability,” Monahan said.
“We have training modules for police leaders, elected officials, community members, police unions and associations where they can discuss the need for police reform policy. ‘ said.
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Police2Peace was founded in 2016 to work with law enforcement agencies across the country to improve the relationship between agencies and the public they serve, primarily by changing perceptions around the key functions police officers perform. Helping form lasting relationships.
In most states, including Arizona, criminal law uses the term peace officer only when referring to police officers, but Monaghan said the focus has not always been on peacekeeping. rice field.
“In many ways, the emphasis has been on the mindset of law enforcement, but much of the time police officers spend is spent communicating: solving community problems and dealing with neighborhood conflicts. It’s about bringing peace to chaos, a law enforcement function,” Monaghan said.
In 2018, South Carolina’s Richland County Sheriff’s Department became one of the first agencies to receive this training and receive a “Peace Officer Certification.”
Today, Richland County lawmakers can be recognized by peace officer decals on their vehicles or patches on their uniforms, said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. It helps demonstrate that you are doing it in conjunction with routine peacekeeping while you are doing it.
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When he was first introduced to the program, Lott said, “because it reinforces what our beliefs are anyway.”
Since then, the response from both his agents and the community has been overwhelmingly positive.
“There’s no question that our job is to build relationships. You can’t build relationships during a crisis. You have to lay the groundwork for that long before it happens,” Lott said. “I think this will go a long way in building good and positive relationships between peace officers, our work and the community.”
Contact Northern Arizona reporter Lacey Latch at llatch@gannett.com or social media @laceylatch. Northern Arizona coverage on azcentral.com and the Republic of Arizona is funded by a grant from the nonprofit Report for America and the Vitalyst Health Foundation Associated with the Republic of Arizona.
