The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum will host a free virtual panel discussion examining anti-bias training programs in law enforcement communities across the country on Monday, August 10 from 2:00pm to 3:30pm (EDT).

In the wake of the killing of George Floyd in the custody of the Minneapolis (MN) Police Department and the subsequent calls for immediate police reform, many states such as Michigan and Texas have mandated that officers go through anti-bias training as part of sweeping police legislation occurring throughout the United States.

Anti-bias training has been part of officer training in many jurisdictions, including Minneapolis and New York City, among others. The effectiveness of these trainings has been drawn into question by independent studies, news outlets, and police organizations.

More work is needed to understand the problem at hand and in building consensus on approaches to the training that can lead to meaningful changes in officer behavior and peaceful resolutions to potentially violent confrontations.

“An important component of our mission is to provide a platform for dialogue that will help strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” said National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund CEO Marcia Ferranto. “Thought-provoking programs like this one help law enforcement and communities take an inward look at what works and what still needs to happen in order to make those relationships stronger."

Moderated by Dr. Booker Hodges, Assistant Commissioner of Law Enforcement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the discussion panel for Spotlight On Law Enforcement Anti-Bias Programs, will take an in-depth look at the effectiveness of these programs, how they've evolved and how they may need to change in the wake of the death of George Floyd while in police custody.

Participants in the virtual panel discussion include:

Moderator:

Dr. Booker Hodges, Assistant Commissioner of Law Enforcement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Panelists:

Dwayne Crawford, Executive Director, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)

Sharon Sayles-Belton, Vice President, Partnerships and Alliances, Thomson Reuters; Former Mayor, Minneapolis

Dr. Tracie Keesee, Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of Justice Initiatives, Center for Policing Equity

Fabienne Brooks, Chief (Retired), Co-Director of the Law Enforcement Division, National Coalition Building Institute

Guillermo Lopez, Co-Director of the Law Enforcement Division, National Coalition Building Institute

This event is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Target and Thomson Reuters. Register for the virtual panel discussion here.