The University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) invests in robust training programs for all staff. All new employees must complete an on-boarding program and for most positions there is a Field Training Program that is specific to the position.
All police recruits are required to meet the election and employment standards as set forth by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES). In addition, police recruits are hired or sponsored in-service through a selection process to attend a certified police academy standard curriculum of 594 hour in the State of Michigan. Following the police academy completion, the police officer is certified.
At DPSS, probationary police and security officers are then required to attend a Field Training Officer Program (FTO) following the completion of the orientation period. Topics included in the FTO program, but not limited to, are:
- Defensive tactics
- First Aid, CPR, & AED
- Naloxone training
- CJIS training
- Blood borne pathogens training
- U-M HIPAA and FERPA
- Legal update
In addition, all DPSS police and security officers are trained in use of force, verbal de-escalation, and de-escalation during the on-boarding process. The de-escalation training aims to increase the likelihood that an individual will voluntarily comply and minimizes the likelihood of the need to use force during an incident. DPSS policy requires officers to use de-escalation techniques and other alternatives consistent with their training whenever possible and appropriate before resorting to force. Officers are trained to communicate clearly with subjects and allow time and opportunity for individuals to comply with verbal commands before force is used.
DPSS also provides yearly training on a variety of other topics such as implicit bias, autism awareness, interpersonal violence, mental health awareness, legal update and more.
Please see more information on job-specific training below.
Job-specific Training
-
Interpersonal Violence training is led by the Special Victims Unit (SVU) team. The SVU team is an enterprise-wide resource available to assist and train our first responders on how to respond appropriately to any IPV incident. The SVU team are subject matter experts specially trained to investigate domestic violence, personal protection order violations, and other crimes of an interpersonal nature. The team investigates stalking, harassment, sexual assault, and the abuse of a child, vulnerable adult, or elderly person.
-
DPSS first responders are trained to respond to medical emergencies. Our first responders are trained to use Naloxone, CPR, first aid, AED, and the application of tourniquets when rendering emergency aid.
-
Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives (MILO) provides realistic, life-sized scenario training. In addition to use of force training, MILO is also used to teach officers to be mindful of body proxemics, body language and implicit bias as they demonstrate their de-escalation skills.
-
Mental Health Awareness teaches officers to use discretion during contacts with individuals exhibiting symptoms of mental illness.
-
All new police or security officers attend the Field Training Officer Program (FTO). The new officer will be paired with an experienced training officer. New officers are gradually given increased responsibility, while being evaluated on a daily basis. The FTO program concludes when new officers are able to exhibit the ability to function in a solo-capacity.
