Training

All police recruits are required to meet the election and employment standards as set forth by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES).

In addition, police recruits are hired or sponsored in-service through a selection process to attend a certified police academy with a standard curriculum of 594 hours in the State of Michigan. Following the academy's completion, the police officer is certified.

At DPSS, probationary police and security officers are then required to attend a Field Training Officer Program (FTO) following the completion of the orientation period. Topics included in the FTO program, but not limited to, are:

• Defensive tactics
• First Aid, CPR, & AED
• Naloxone training
• CJIS training
• Blood borne pathogens training
• U-M HIPAA and FERPA
• Legal update

All DPSS police and security officers are trained in using force and verbal de-escalation during the onboarding process. The de-escalation training aims to increase the likelihood that an individual will voluntarily comply and minimize the likelihood of the need to use force during an incident.

DPSS policy requires officers to use de-escalation techniques and alternatives consistent with their training whenever possible and appropriate before resorting to force.

Officers are trained to communicate clearly with subjects and allow time and opportunity for individuals to comply with verbal commands before force is used.

DPSS also provides yearly training on various other topics, such as implicit bias, autism awareness, interpersonal violence, mental health awareness, legal updates and more.

Interpersonal Violence training is led by the Special Victims Unit (SVU) team.

The SVU team is an enterprise-wide resource available to assist and train our first responders on how to respond appropriately to any IPV incident. The SVU team is made up of subject matter experts specially trained to investigate domestic violence, personal protection order violations, and other interpersonal crimes.

The team investigates stalking, harassment, sexual assault, and the abuse of a child, vulnerable adult, or elderly person.

DPSS first responders are trained to respond to medical emergencies. Our first responders are trained to use Naloxone, CPR, first aid, AED, and the application of tourniquets when rendering emergency aid.

Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives (MILO) provides realistic, life-sized scenario training. In addition to use of force training, MILO is also used to teach officers to be mindful of body proxemics, body language and implicit bias as they demonstrate their de-escalation skills.

Mental Health Awareness Training teaches officers to use discretion during contacts with individuals exhibiting symptoms of mental illness.

All new police or security officers attend the Field Training Officer Program (FTO). They are paired with an experienced training officer and gradually given increased responsibility while being evaluated daily.

The FTO program concludes when new officers can exhibit the ability to function in a solo capacity.