Today, law enforcement is expected to successfully tackle modern challenges that often transcend traditional law enforcement duties.

Void of alternatives, police officers are increasingly called upon to handle social, emotional, and complex issues that affect communities such as the opioid epidemic, homelessness, and mental health crises. Officers and public safety leaders must be equipped to address diverse situations that require proven skill sets, modern and innovative approaches, successful problem-solving, community collaboration, leadership, and ongoing training to support effective public safety. Budget reductions within many agencies allocate limited funds for training beyond the minimum standards for Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) requirements, and staffing challenges stretch capacity—leaving many agencies with unmet training needs and few options for accessibility to quality, up-to-date training.

The IACP, with support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), has developed Elevate Blue: Essential Training for Law Enforcement (Elevate Blue). Elevate Blue is a high-quality, virtual training suite built to address critical and contemporary training needs for law enforcement.

The IACP is proud to announce the launch of Elevate Blue courses in 2024 with a rollout of trainings throughout the year. Courses available in early 2024 include

• • Managing Mass Demonstrations and Preserving Civil Liberties
  • Leadership, Management, and Supervision
  • Officer Safety and Wellness

Elevate Blue was developed and is led by the IACP through a coalition of key law enforcement and criminal justice stakeholders, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of College Law Enforcement Administrators, the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST), the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the National District Attorneys Association, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. This coalition allows for an unparalleled value and a robust approach in collaboration, topic selection and development, content considerations, subject matter expertise, and resources.

Each course is thoughtfully constructed in collaboration with partners, practitioners and subject matter experts from the field, and skilled curriculum developers. Elevate Blue courses offer an interactive experience, connecting the learner with the content, building skills, confidence, and knowledge and engaging with the material using real-world scenarios and integrated feedback.

Benefits of Elevate Blue

Elevate Blue is designed to fit the needs of law enforcement agencies and course participants.

Cost Effectiveness: Elevate Blue will be available at no cost for law enforcement personnel through IACPlearn, the premiere learning management platform of the IACP.

Flexibility: The virtual training suite affords flexibility for learners to participate in training on demand and within the limits of their schedule. Learners may control the pace of each course, take breaks, and return to the course at their leisure. Course length may vary, but it is completed in an average of two to four hours.

Accessibility: The training suite is available on any device, any time, and wherever learners can establish connectivity to IACPlearn. Each course is equipped with a student guide, a glossary of terms, and complementary downloadable resources and job aids

Engagement: Courses engage the learner by integrating adult learning principles through video, interactive exercises, and knowledge checks. Subject matter experts connect the course content to real-life experiences through short, relatable testimonial videos.

Certification: Each course is certified through the IADLEST National Certification Program and will fulfill POST requirements. Participants will receive a signed certificate of completion upon finishing the course.

Elevate Blue aims to broaden and support training opportunities for law enforcement on critical topics that champion best and promising practices, incorporate research and evidence-based approaches, provide perspectives and illustrations from diverse practitioners and experts, and enhance public safety for agencies and the communities they serve.

Throughout 2024, Elevate Blue will be launching additional courses to include

• • Recruitment, Hiring, Training, and Retention
  • Community Engagement and Trust
  • Effective Violent Crime Reduction Strategies
  • Use of Force
  • Procedural Justice and Equity in Traffic Stops (Supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)d
    

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    Please cite as

    Erin Kozar, “Elevate Blue Essential Training for Law Enforcement,” IACP@Work, Police Chief 91, no. 2 (February 2024): 62–63.