MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis’ police union is partnering with a national group to offer “warrior-style” training to officers despite the mayor’s ban on the training that he says is rooted in fear.
Law Officer, a law enforcement news and training group, announced this week it will provide free online training to members of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, the Star Tribune reported.
Travis Yates, the group’s training director, said in a statement that the course is designed to ensure that officers “return home each day to their family regardless of the dangers that they may face and the ignorance of some politicians.”
The training is valued at $55,000 a year and the group says it addresses issues such as “officer survival,” leadership, fitness and de-escalation.
The announcement follows Mayor Jacob Frey’s ban on the popular training last week. Frey said the “fear-based” training violates community policing values.
The city has been embracing “guardian” tactics, which focus on de-escalation and using deadly force as a last resort.
Frey responded to the Law Officer announcement with a threat.
“We have adopted this new policy because proper training on use of force and de-escalation is of paramount importance,” he said in a statement. “Officers found to pursue any training that conflicts with MPD’s training and has not been preapproved will be subject to discipline.”
The comments come as the city grapples with the ongoing murder trial of Mohamed Noor , a former Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot an unarmed woman as she approached his squad car after calling 911. Attorneys for Noor have argued that he fired the single shot that killed Justine Ruszczyk Damond in July 2017 after hearing a loud noise and fearing an ambush.
“We have adopted this new policy because proper training on use of force and de-escalation is of paramount importance,” Frey recently said about the ban.
The police union’s president, Lt. Bob Kroll, called Frey’s ban illegal.
He defended the “warrior” training style, saying that it isn’t “about killing, it’s about surviving.”
Frey said the city attorney’s office was consulted when drafting the policy.
“They are confident in its legal position,” he said.
___
Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.