INDIANAPOLIS -- New training for Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department supervisors is designed to improve the department's relationship with the community.
The implicit bias training course has been a requirement for recruits with the department for several years, but recently supervisors have been going through the same training.
Lieutenant Michael Wolley says the training taught him that sometimes the decisions officers make are based on their own personal experiences.
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"Key takeaways from the training - every person, whether an officer or a citizen you have unconscious biases," said Lt. Wolley.
The bias training is meant to teach officers to recognize situations where they may otherwise make a judgment without knowing the people they are dealing with or the situation they're coming from.
Sometimes, those biases leave you unprepared for a situation that may arise.
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"I give you an example from an officer standpoint: When you look at elderly people. Typically when you think about elderly people, you think they may not be a threat - older and weaker. You may assume they may not be a threat physically. Officers can sometimes lower their officer safety when dealing with the elderly," said Lt. Wolley. "We know through history and specific to Indianapolis there have been some examples of older people who have hurt officers in the past. It's a good reminder that we need to be aware of those unconscious decisions we make - and keep our safety up."
IMPD Chief Bryan Roach says the training is an effort to build upon the police reform and enhancement plans announced by Mayor Joe Hogsett following the reinstatement of the two officers involved in the fatal shooting of Aaron Bailey.
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