Police training was once shaped behind the walls of the academy but now faces the political pressures from the highest office and what was once a jurisdictional department decision has become a field influenced by a few people.
While the method and protocols of training for police officers have evolved over the years—recent changes are more important than ever since the expanding role ICE has in the country.
Valley officers spoke to Northeast Valley News about ICE and how it’s making their job to protect the public harder.
The political state of the country, over the years, has always contributed to altering the way in which a police officer is trained. Today, police officers are required to wear body cameras during their shift to ensure that what they do is monitored. The footage is reviewed to ensure that officers are following protocol appropriately.
“As a police officer for many years in the Valley it is unfair that ICE does not have to wear body cameras. It makes it easy for them to avoid being accountable for their actions. The public should feel protected as they preform similar enforcement actions,” said a veteran Valley police officer who asked for anonymity in the interview for fear of reprisal.
“I used to review the footage from officer’s body cameras to improve their training. A lot of people learn best from visuals. There is no learning with no video evidence from a rouge federal agency like ICE,” the officer said.
Along with cameras, police officers are now required to be equipped with less lethal weapons than in the past.
Before, they used nothing but a gun and baton. Now they have access to a taser, pepper spray, and unlethal guns. This shift in training with other forms of defense reflects a more community centered political climate in order to prioritize the preservation of life first— making people feel safer.
Unlike ICE federal agents—after the required time in the academy, local police officers must now train for longer periods of time and with another officer before being sent out alone. It used to be weeks, now it is closer to five months.
Proper training and learning the correct skills are important for officers in order to send them out with the full intent of protecting their communities.
Several Valley police officers discussed the pride they take in their job and their desire for the public to separate them from the actions of ICE.
“Police officers do not work with ICE. Considering the political standings, I believe the government would love if we worked with ICE but I wouldn’t enjoy. Why would a police officer want to work for ICE, unless wires are missing in their head,” one officer told Northeast Valley News.
All of the officers interviewed expressed one clear message—police officers are members of the community that adapt to changes —and follow the rule of law.
Officers included the fact that training over the years has changed in order to make sure people stay safe and preservation of life and that local police officers are not out to deport people and break up families. That is something that the government uses ICE for which is a federal agency not a local police department.
These Valley officers want the public to understand the distinct difference between ICE and police officers. Those who discussed their frustrations over many of the ICE tactics want the public to feel safe with local policing.
Overall, the main request from the police officers to the public?
Understand the difference and support the officers that are there to protect, not destroy our communities.
