The franklin county sheriff''S office will use FY24 safer outcomes funding to implement an intensive training program to promote safer outcomes during police encounters

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office was awarded a $333,124 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710). The funding will be used to implement an intensive training program to promote safer outcomes during police encounters, with a focus on de-escalation, crisis response, and use of force reduction. Key goals of the project include training 100% of law enforcement officers in de-escalation techniques, improving crisis response capabilities, reducing use of force incidents by 30%, promoting community trust, and increasing awareness of mental health issues. The project will deliver training modules, curriculum development, after-action reviews, and policy updates, engaging partners within the department as well as external law enforcement agencies and community organizations. The two-year project period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026.

While the training will encompass all types of interactions, IT will also have a specific focus on encounters with suicidal subjects, mental illness, persons under the influence, individuals with disabilities, etc. The training will be available for sworn personnel, support personnel, and extended to outside law enforcement agencies and community service boards. The scope of the proposed project defines exactly what goals, deadlines and deliverables that we will be working towards. Goal #1: to enhance officer training and skills in DE-escalation by providing comprehensive training in DE-escalation techniques to 100% of our law enforcement officers within the next 24 months, equipping them with the skills to manage conflicts peacefully and effectively. Goal #2: to improve crisis response capabilities by ensuring that all officers receive specialized training in handling mental health crises, substance abuse incidents, and other high-stress situations. Goal #3: to reduce the use of force incidents by 30% within the next two years through enhanced training in non-lethal techniques and communication strategies. Goal #4: to promote community trust and safety by providing officers with tools to engage with the public in a respectful and empathetic manner, aiming to reduce complaints related to officer conduct by 50% over the two years. Goal #5: to increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues by providing specialized training modules, aiming for a 90% positive feedback rate from officers on the relevance and usefulness of the training. Goal #6: to implement an evaluation and feedback mechanism to assess the effectiveness of the training programs, with a target of receiving feedback from at least 75% of the trained officers and incorporating community input into training improvements. Goal #7: continue creating a network of trained crisis intervention officers who can respond to crisis situations with specialized skills, ensuring that every sworn member has received CIT training. Goal #8: strengthen the partnerships with mental health and community organizations to provide support and resources for crisis intervention, with regular joint training sessions and community outreach events. Strategies to maintain deadlines for the above goals will include developing a comprehensive project plan that outlines the entire project with activities, milestones and deadlines. This will be managed by a project management team who will establish communication plans to ensure that all goals and deliverables are completed in a timely manner. Deliverables expected for this project will include reporting the number of individuals trained, training aides that will be used to support the project, a curriculum development, after-action reviews, any created or revised policies, and any reports of findings relevant to the projects funded by this grant. Key partners to make this training project a success will include various members of both rank and years of experience within the department, as well as partnering with other law enforcement agencies and the local community services board to maximize the use and effectiveness of the proposed project.