Criminal Justice Training
Dover – Nationally recognized facilitators this week will train 60 certified police instructors from at least 16 Delaware agencies on how to instruct their co-workers to respond to calls where a suspect is inside a building firing a weapon. A brief press conference will be held Wednesday, June 26 at 10 a.m. in Room 5 of the Peak Building at Del Tech’s Terry Campus to outline the program facilitated by the National Tactical Officers Association.
The Delaware Police Chiefs Council identified the need for specialized training on cooperative responses and effective tactics at a February meeting. The Delaware Criminal Justice Council (CJC) funded the $22,400 project with a Local Law Enforcement Block Grant, provided by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Incidents such as the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado and the ongoing threat of terrorism have revealed the need for uniform first responder training. The training will enable police officers from multiple agencies to unite quickly in a critical incident rather than wait for a SWAT team to arrive. The training, which began Monday and runs through Saturday, includes two days in each county.
“Law enforcement has had to face many new and different situations in schools and public places in recent years,” said Lt. Governor John C. Carney, Jr., CJC Chair. “It’s important that we give our officers the tools and skills they need to address these dangerous scenarios.”
Among those who helped organize the training were Seaford Chief Richard Pounsberry, Ocean View Chief Kenneth McLaughlin, Delaware State Police Sergeant Alice Bailey, Dept. of Education Director of School Climate and Discipline Robin Case and Criminal Justice Council Planner Chuck Pugh. Members of the Delaware State Police, Milford Police Department, Wilmington Police Department and New Castle County Police Department are participating in the training in Kent County. Delaware Technical and Community College has provided the facilities and classroom audiovisual equipment for the course in all three counties.
