I am a Virginia resident and college student. I am submitting this comment express my support for updates and revisions to the Commonwealth's compulsory minimum training requirements for law enforcement officers.

Since these standards were last revised 20 years ago, our nation has undergone various and complex political, social, and economic changes. It is my opinion that updating the minimum training standards for the Commonwealth's officers is crucial to realigning regulatory guidelines with current-day challenges and expectations for law enforcement officers.

It has been proven in recent studies that enhancements in law enforcement training on community interaction skills (National Policing Institute, 2022) and situational decision-making can reduce the use of nonlethal force, the number of discretionary arrests, and officer injury (Brabaw, 2024). Since this government action seeks to enhance training in efforts that fall under these categories, I think it is a sensible and positive policy change.

Further, these revisions will promote the Department of Criminal Justice Service's goals of providing adequate training, increasing officer effectiveness, and promoting public confidence in law enforcement (Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, n.d.).

Helpful References: 

Brabaw, K. (2024, March 11). How to redesign police training to reduce the use of force. Chicago Booth Review. https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/how-redesign-police-training-reduce-use-force

National Policing Institute. (2022, March 28). Study: Intensive, specialized training of police officers leads to reduced crime, fewer arrests, and more positive interactions and community evaluations. https://www.policinginstitute.org/press-releases/study-intensive-specialized-training-of-police-officers-leads-to-reduced-crime-fewer-arrests-and-more-positive-interactions-and-community-evaluations/

Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. (n.d.). Mission, goals, and benefits. Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission. https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/law-enforcement/programs/vlepsc/overview-benefits

I support the proposed updates to Virginia’s Compulsory Minimum Training Standards for Law Enforcement Officers. Extending the training period from 12 to 18 months is a positive step that will strengthen both officer preparedness and community trust. Enhancing performance outcomes, training objectives, and testing criteria, particularly in areas such as verbal de-escalation and conflict resolution, will help ensure officers are better equipped to handle complex, high-stress situations with professionalism and empathy.

While physical fitness remains a priority for the Lynchburg Police Department, we believe these specific requirements may unintentionally exclude otherwise qualified candidates, especially as agencies across the Commonwealth compete to attract the most capable individuals to the profession. We are concerned that these standards, as currently written, may hinder our ability to recruit and hire the best possible candidates to serve the City of Lynchburg. We recommend that participation in this physical fitness course be required for training academies, but that the successful completion of such course is not required for graduating from the academy, and that it is not required to obtain DCJS law enforcement officer certification.