Michigan Senate: Proposed Legislation Would Overhaul Police Training

Ongoing national protests against police brutality and systemic racism have been bolstered by urgent calls to action. Michigan lawmakers have started to address protesters’ demands by proposing police reform legislation.

“I think the most important thing we can do as a Legislature is to change that attitude and change that thinking about the role of a police department in our communities.” — State Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-18)

The move would require officers to be trained on implicit bias and violence de-escalation as well as new mental health screening requirements.

Listen: State Senator Jeff Irwin on the need for police reform. 

Guest

Jake Neher/WDET

State Sen. Jeff Irwin, a Democrat representing Michigan’s 18th District, is sponsoring legislation to overhaul police training requirements in Michigan.

“For the first time, this bill would require continuing education for police officers,” says Sen. Irwin of the proposed legislation. He says the reception to the bill among his colleagues is markedly different from past conversations around police reform, a testament to past and current protest movements. 

Sen. Irwin says a key issue he hopes the law will tackle is the prevalent “us vs. them” mentality instilled during police training exercises.”I think the most important thing we can do as a Legislature is to change that attitude and change that thinking about the role of a police department in our communities,” says Sen. Irwin.