Michigan Senate OKs bill seeking additional police training
Jesse Kelley, a government affairs specialist at The R Street Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization based in Washington, said implicit bias and de-escalation techniques are “critically important” to change the nature of policing.
As of 2017, 34 states didn’t require officers to be trained in de-escalation techniques to defuse tense situations, Kelley said
“The need for additional training, especially regarding de-escalation techniques, is incredibly timely given the increased militarization of policing and the public outcry following several lethal police shootings,” Kelley told The Center Square in an email.
Kelley said local police departments since 2006 have procured more than 435 armored vehicles, 533 military aircraft, and 93,763 machine guns.
“Since the police are holding more formidable weapons in their hands, increasing the need for de-escalation as well as communication and crisis-intervention training that better permits officers to identify and respond effectively to people who might be having a mental health issue or episode is certainly an important piece of the puzzle,” Kelly wrote.
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