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Statesboro Police receives $160k for use of force, de-escalation training

The Statesboro Police Department received a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council grant in the amount of $160,000 to go towards de-escalation training. The grant was accepted by the City of Statesboro at the Tuesday, June 19 City Council meeting.
SPD-Training

The Statesboro Police Department received a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council grant in the amount of $160,000 to go towards de-escalation training. The grant was accepted by the City of Statesboro at the Tuesday, June 19 City Council meeting.

The Statesboro Police Department and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Georgia Southern University Tactical Athlete Research Network applied for the grant.

The purpose for this grant was to request funding for the Statesboro / Bulloch Use of Force and De-escalation Training Lab. The training lab will facilitate scenario-based, hands-on training for law enforcement officers covering the topics of Use of Force and De-escalation.

Project Goals:

Goal 1: Increase the amount, availability, and quality of Use of Force and De-Escalation Training at the SBLETC that is available to SPD Officers, BCSO Deputies, and our regional partners.

Goal 2: Develop a preliminary SBLETC scenario-based training curriculum. The curriculum will incorporate Reality-Based Training, fully utilize the physical space and resources of the SBLETC, and be responsive to the diverse learning needs of the vast array of officers/deputies served.

Goal 3: Meet and exceed the training mandated by former Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and carried on by the current Governor Brian Kemp.

Goal 4: Foster and bolster community relationships.

Goal 5: Work alongside our research partners at Georgia Southern University to study how Use of Force and De-escalation Training is being conducted and make recommendations to strengthen and improve Use of Force and De-escalation Training. This will align with the Tactical Athlete Research focus on overall officer wellness.

This grant will enable training to best prepare officers and deputies when called to exercise critical decision-making for de-escalation and use of force situations. We are thankful that the City of Statesboro has been awarded this grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

On Wednesday, May 26th, Governor Brian Kemp and Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) Executive Director Jay Neal announced the award of 63 grants in the amount of $6,756,389 for the Law Enforcement Training Grant Program. During the 2020 legislative session, Governor Brian Kemp recommended and lawmakers approved the creation of a law enforcement training grant program through the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for state and local law enforcement agencies.

“We are committed to giving law enforcement officers across the state specialized training and resources needed to provide the best possible public safety to Georgia’s citizens," said Gov. Kemp. "This grant program will help pay for essential training - including in use of force and de-escalation - for state and local law enforcement officers and give them the tools they need to keep our communities safe."