New Jersey Bill to Regulate Private Police Training Companies

Proposed Legislation for Police Training Oversight

• 📜 Lawmakers in New Jersey are proposing a bill that would require private police training companies to obtain state approval for their instructors and courses.
• 💡 This legislation aims to change the current system where taxpayer money can fund training without state oversight, following an investigative report on a controversial program.

Concerns with Current Training Practices

• ⚠️ An audit of a training company called Street Cop revealed that speakers at their conference used lewd language, glorified violence, and taught unconstitutional police tactics.
• 🔍 The New Jersey State Controller's office highlighted these issues, which prompted lawmakers to draft the new bill.
• ⚖️ The proposed bill would mandate annual approval from the state's Police Training Commission, an arm of the Attorney General's office.

Industry Response and Perspectives

• 👍 Instructors like Allen Bloodgood welcome the idea of state approval, believing it would increase credibility and assure the quality of training.
• 🗣️ Street Cop's founder, Dennis Bonino, criticized the bill, calling the audit biased and suggesting the investigation focused on minor jokes rather than the overall value of their training.
• 🤝 The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police supports the need for oversight but seeks exemptions for established non-profit training providers.

Status of the Bill

• 📈 The bill has advanced through a public safety committee but has not yet received a full vote in either legislative chamber.
• ❓ If enacted, the law could prevent police from attending unapproved training, potentially avoiding issues like unconstitutional policing, bad searches, and improper use of force.