Utah Law Enforcement Begin Diversity Training

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Law enforcement officers across the state are getting a new course in diversity training that was spurred by the death of George Floyd in police custody last year and the protests that followed around the country and here in Utah.

Officials with the Utah Department of Public Safety started looking at these types of changes last May, talking with leaders in minority communities.

One of the things that came out of those meetings is a series of four planned courses in diversity training.

The way you see the protests, calls for change, and the horror of Floyd’s death are all determined by who you are and where you come from.

Not everyone looks at law enforcement the same way, and there are reasons for that.

“What we’re looking at is being able to create conversations about livid experiences, from different perspectives, from different communities,” said Emma Houston, special assistant to VP of equity diversity and inclusion at the University of Utah.

This course with Utah’s Peace Officer Standards and Training is the first step.

“Part of what we’re trying to do with this training is to get past the pushback, to get past those initial reactions of ‘That’s not what was intended,’ or ‘I’m not part of that,’” said Col. Michael Rapich with the Utah Highway Patrol.

He admitted at first, not all officers understand why this is necessary.

Younger cadets like Jensen Martinez realized the job is under a lot of scrutiny these days. “Oh yea, especially. This is one of the hardest times to be a law enforcement officer. Everyone’s – all eyes are on you,” Martinez said.

To gain a better understanding they talked about some difficult topics.

Dr. Forrest Crawford, former assistant to the president for diversity at Weber State University said, “We have the music genre that’s come out and they’re using the N-word like it’s no big deal.”

Other topics included slavery and laws that enforced it.

It’s a lot to sum up in a news story, but at first glance, you might assume it has nothing to do with the way law enforcement is seen today.

“If I only believe that my way is the right way, then I will continue down a path that may be destructive, that may be alienating, that may be creating barriers in various communities,” Houston said.

Monday’s training is one piece of what the DPS plans to do. Four diversity courses will become part of an annual rotation.

Some of the other steps include a mentoring and recruiting effort that will start up once the pandemic ends.