State Rep. Joe Verrengia of West Hartford chairs the legislature’s Public Safety and Security Committee, and has been working with a task force studying the training of police officers, and submitted recommendations on Tuesday.

Submitted

Chair of the Public Safety and Security Committee Rep. Joe Verrengia (D-20/West Hartford) met with members of the Task Force on Police Training Tuesday to present a report to the legislature on police training recommendations.

The report, created pursuant to Special Act 16-13, is the work of a task force to study the training curriculum and education of police officers in Connecticut relative to recognized best practices.

“The work of the task force may have been concluded, but in many ways the conversation is just beginning. This will be a work in progress as various stakeholders continue to work together on police training issues,” Verrengia said. “I am very pleased with the work of all the members. It was a good example of everyone working together in a constructive and meaningful way.”

(From SA 16-13 Executive Summary)

Beginning in 2014, the Connecticut General Assembly passed legislation requiring police training to incorporate policies related to individuals affected with serious mental issues; use of physical force; body worn equipment; cultural competency and sensitivity training; complaints from the public; and the use of electronic defense weapons.

As a result of the ongoing changes to police training, coupled with the desire to address discord between police and minority communities, a proposal was considered to independently examine police training and education and summarize pertinent information for the Public Safety and Security Committee.

The task force was mandated to examine current basic curriculum and practices, instruction and delivery of the basic curriculum, feasibility and desirability of offering training at satellite campuses, and other topics deemed appropriate to police training.

Task force recommendations are found in PDF form below.

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