After a membership poll, M.O.B.B. United has selected mandatory de-escalation training for police officers as our first Policy priority. To that end, we are pushing Congressional representatives to support Federal Bill HR 5221, the Preventing Tragedies Between Police and Communities Act of 2016, which was introduced by Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI) and referred to committee on May 12th, 2016.
Highlights of the bill, which would take effect one year after the date of the act, are as follows:
- Requires the Attorney General to collect data on fund recipients’ efforts to enhance de-escalation training.
- Requires those enrolled in an academy of a law enforcement agency and law enforcement officers of the state or unit of local government to be trained in de-escalation, including:
- Alternative methods of applying force and preventing escalation of a situation.
- Verbal and physical tactics to minimize the need for the use of force: communication, negotiation, and de-escalation techniques.
- Crisis intervention strategies to appropriately identify and respond to individuals suffering from mental health or substance abuse issues.
- Evidence-based practices such as the Critical Decision-Making Model.
- Training with an emphasis on theories of de-escalation.
Please join us in support of this bill by contacting your Congressional representative to express your concern for our sons!