U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Illinois, and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have announced that Western Illinois University (WIU) has been awarded $746,000 in federal funds to provide law enforcement training programs for local police departments and to improve policing across western Illinois.
In a news release Wednesday, Nov. 30, the Moline congressman said “At a time when so many of our local police departments have strained budgets, I welcome this federal investment so we can support their mission and help keep every neighbor safe.”
The Community Policing Development Award comes from the DOJ’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The funding will help WIU develop a cutting-edge virtual training center for law enforcement under the leadership of WIU Psychology professor Kimberly McClure.
The internet-based training initiative, named the De-escalation Training through Active Learning (DeTAL) Assessment and Research Center, will serve as a resource not just for police in western Illinois, but for law enforcement across the entire region, the release said. Its goal is to provide scenario-based training that improves interactions between police officers and the communities they serve.
“This award is a testament to the hard work of those at WIU and is a testament to the progress that we are making to ensure our police have what they need to do their jobs,” Mr. Sorensen added.
“We are honored and excited to be one of a handful of organizations selected for the COPS de-escalation center award,” Ms. McClure said in the release. “The core mission of the De-escalation through Active Learning (DeTal) center is to optimize education and training for officer wellness and safety. Community perspectives on de-escalation curriculum and scenario-based practice is a key aspect of this effort.”
“We want to ensure that training reflects community members’ lived experiences, contributing to the health and wellness of our communities in the Midwest region,” said Ms. McClure, who also is a principal investigator.
