To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Rochelle Brown, Prosecutor's Office Operations Director
title
RE: Approval of the Peacekeepers contract
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Authorization to enter into and sign contract to bring in Peacekeepers International to Train 100 police officers and 100 community members in respect for authority combined with bias and sensitivity.
BACKGROUND:
The Peacekeeper Global Initiative is a Community Action Plan designed to help promote peace, love and unity in a community that is plagued by crime and gun violence. The organization has been in 32 cities in the US and 3 foreign countries over the last 15 years. Local citizens are recruited and then trained in: Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Conflict Resolution, Self-Defense, CPR and First Aid, Love Thyself and Respect Thyself, and The Proper Handling of People. The group is known by their bright orange sweatshirts that typically have a peaceful message like "I am Present for Peace" and they are given ID by the organization to certify they have been properly trained. The Peacekeepers offer many advantages to the communities in which they reside. Examples of this programming include Barbershop Talks, Police Mental Health Training, Mediation Sessions and Education, and Community Sensitivity Trainings. Of interest to law enforcement, the group offers ENOTA Training (Educating Neighborhoods to Obey Those in Authority) and AT-ONE Training (Alternative Training Offered to Neighborhood Enforcement or Educators).
DISCUSSION:
Last summer, the group spearheaded a "Stop the Beef, Before the Grief," initiative to combat summer violence in Flint. Prosecutor Leyton supported this effort and seeks to expand our collaboration. To that end, the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office has partnered with the Peacekeepers to combine ENOTA and AT-ONE trainings for the first time. The idea is to bring members of the community together with members o...
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