The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce their acceptance into the Georgetown University Law Center’s ABLE (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement) Project. This project continues PSO’s evidence-based and research driven approach to law enforcement and grows our partnerships with leading universities such as Florida Gulf Coast University, University of South Florida, Kansas State University, Norwich University, University of Florida, and others.
The ABLE project was created by the Georgetown University Law Center to ensure every law enforcement officer has the opportunity to receive meaningful, effective active bystandership training. The ABLE project builds on existing duty-to-intervene policies and supports a police culture that reaffirms the successful use of proven peer intervention strategies. This program will provide education and training for PSO deputies and detectives on how to successfully intervene.
The ABLE Project, which is housed within Georgetown University Law Center’s Innovative Policing Program, is a national hub for training, technical assistance and research, all with the aim of supporting a law enforcement culture in which officers intervene as necessary to prevent misconduct while also promoting officer health and wellness.
To be accepted, PSO demonstrated its commitment to creating a culture of active bystandership. Acceptance also required the support from local community groups and elected leaders, for which PSO is deeply grateful to have received. This is yet another evidence-based, research driven approach to reduce victimization, keep our community safe and partner with the community, and we look forward to serving our citizens with the utmost professionalism.
PSO is believed to be the first Sheriff’s Office in Florida to be accepted and begin to employ this training amongst its law enforcement deputies. Initial training is currently expected to begin in September and ramp up by the middle of October. PSO expects to train all of its law enforcement deputies and detectives. ABLE training is provided by Georgetown Law Center’s ABLE Project free of charge to PSO, making the training all the more worthwhile.
PSO is poised to join ABLE’s network of 169 certified agencies across 38 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces. Roughly 65.8 million community members are currently served by ABLE agencies, by approximately 111,800 officers who have undergone the training.
For additional information on the Georgetown University Law Center’s ABLE Program, visit their website at www.law.georgetown.edu/IPP/ABLE.
Pasco Sheriff’s Office
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