Gordie’s Midday Gossip - Lakeland Police to bring banned Cop Training

New Lakeland police officers undergo a rigorous 9-14 month training process before hitting the field, including vetting, field training, and attendance at the police academy. The department is looking to fill more officer positions due to growth, with each new hire costing $185,000. The department focuses on high-liability training, including de-escalation, firearms, driving, and defensive tactics. The upcoming “Street Cop Training” program, which has faced controversy in the past, will be hosted in Lakeland with a focus on de-escalation and case law. “Street Cop Training” has been banned in several states. Chief Taylor says the class teaches case law and de-escalation skills, though a 2021 New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller report found the training taught “unconstitutional police tactics” and “glorified violence,” among other things. No officers have signed up for the training yet, but community members and city commissioners have expressed support for the department’s handling of recent events.