Citizens Police Academy

One area the Chamber has regularly advocated for is the healthy, fully funded Bloomington Police Department (BPD). The city has been consistently understaffed from the 105 uniform officers that have been budgeted.   The last figure I saw was 84 with an additional number of officers out for medical and military reasons pulling that figure down to under 80 working the streets.

Having spoken about public safety during multiple public meetings, I felt as if I needed to know more.  Sure, I have had discussions with rank-and-file officers but was that enough?  Luckily, the Citizen’s Police Academy is back for a second year after a COVID hiatus.  This will provide me with the necessary background and opportunities to ask questions about where I can be a better advocate. 

My background and interactions have not always been positive with law enforcement officials.  Before moving to Bloomington, they could be deemed as “negative”.  That had changed long before my role in the Chamber.  There is a reason BPD is not involved in civil cases, writing large checks out in civil matters.  We have a police force that is well-trained, courteous, and wanting to serve the public.  When I go to the podium, I try to denote that my comments are not an endorsement of the culture and behaviors of the police but that of that of Bloomington.  Nothing I say lessens or diminishes the sullied history of law enforcement in this country.  The Chamber looks to the BPD as the model for the State and the country.   
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Right now, I am four weeks into the program.   I have learned a lot about what goes into policing in Bloomington.  There is a reason the program is 10 Mondays, 2.5 hours per session.  From hour one, they showed me and my cohort how they have worked to bring the culture to the force that represents the values of this community.   I admit during Deputy Chief Oldham's presentation I welled up. They take public safety in this community seriously and that requires the right officers.  Other areas such as learning about the difficulty in policing domestic violence, being in a police vehicle obstacle course, and how embedded social workers have been a model component for other departments around the state provided further proof.   I hope to do a drive-along in all three shifts to get a first-hand look at what goes on behind the scenes.
Below is the Academy Schedule 

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Me suffering from car sickness after weather 30 minutes of obstacle course driving at the Monroe County Airport.