H.R. 8849: Promoting Police Leadership Act

The bill, titled the Promoting Police Leadership Act, aims to enhance the training of command-level personnel in law enforcement agencies by amending the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Definitions and Training Curriculum Development

• The bill defines "command-level personnel" as law enforcement officers responsible for managing or overseeing operations within a specific geographic area of their jurisdiction.
• The Attorney General is required to develop or identify training curricula for these personnel within 180 days of the bill's enactment.
• The training will cover essential areas, including:
• Leadership and strategic thinking
• Critical incident response and management
• Risk management
• Officer wellness
• Data analysis and data-driven policing tactics
• Evidence-based decision making
• Building community trust

Training Requirements

• The training should prioritize in-person instruction and peer-to-peer learning.
• There will be a practical problem-solving component where trainees identify and address operational challenges relevant to their respective agencies.
• Assessment mechanisms will be included to evaluate the knowledge and competencies gained through the training.

Certification of Training Programs

• Within 180 days of establishing the training curricula, the Attorney General is expected to set up a process to certify training programs and courses for command-level personnel.
• These programs can be existing ones if they meet the new criteria or include those developed after the bill's enactment.
• The Attorney General can revoke certifications for programs that do not meet the updated standards.
• Collaboration with educational institutions will be required to ensure continuous improvement of training programs.

Reporting Requirements

• The Attorney General must report to Congress within two years of the bill's enactment, and annually for three years thereafter, outlining:
• The steps taken to develop or identify curricula
• Assessments of the curricula's effectiveness
• Recommendations for improvements
• Barriers to implementation

Review by the Comptroller General

• Three years post-enactment, the Comptroller General is to conduct a review of the Attorney General's actions regarding the training development and certification process and report findings to Congress.

State and Local Authority Maintained

• The bill does not override the existing authority of state or local governments to set their own training and certification standards for law enforcement officers.

Relevant Companies

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