Utah police trained in new ‘ABLE’ program after George Floyd’s death

SALT LAKE CITY — On Tuesday, dozens of officers from agencies across the state underwent training in a new program developed by Georgetown Law. 

The program is based on social science and research. 

It’s called the ABLE project and follows officer involved scenarios including the death of George Floyd.

The ABLE project and ABLE training will be available to every law enforcement agency and every sworn officer in the state. 

Happening today: Dozens of officers from agencies across the state are in training to train… their own officers through the ABLE Project.

Active

Bystandership for

Law

Enforcement @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/xH6KqYuxxP

— Karah Brackin (@KB_ON_TV) November 15, 2022

The hope for those propelling the ABLE Project forward is all officers participate in the training. 

It introduces a variety of scenario-based training as well as conversational training on taking proactive steps forward when stakes and emotion is high. 

Steven Hansen, CEO of Utah Local Governments Trust, said bringing the training to Utah focusing on bystandership has been two years in the making.

“It’s really something that needs to be learned,” Hansen said.

The ABLE Project stands for Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement training.

Gary Jensen, Logan City Police Chief, said all 59 of his officers will go through training. 

“It’s us changing the narrative in a policing incident to better reflect the outcome,” Jensen said.

Jensen is one of the 60 officers from around 20 agencies in Utah who is training to train his own officers through ABLE which focuses on preventing misconduct, avoiding police mistakes, and promoting officer health and wellness. 

“There’s clearly an evolution into policing. And it’s a positive evolution,” Jensen said.

Once officers go through and complete the initial eight-hour core curriculum, there is a two-hour long refresher course a year later to help officers stay on top of the training.