Over the next several months, employees of the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office will be trained in “bystandership training” in an effort to change the culture of policing.
On Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office announced that it was chosen out of hundreds of applicants around the country to participate in Georgetown University Law Center’s Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project. There are 34 other law enforcement participants.
Over the next several months, all deputy and civilian employees will be required to get eight hours of “evidence-based active bystandership training designed not only to prevent harm, but to change the culture of policing,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Dana Lawhorne said the initiative that improves his department’s ability to meet community expectations,
“That’s why we aggressively sought to be a part of this,” Lawhorne said. “It’s important to us as an agency, it’s important to the community we serve.”
Sheriff’s Office staff will undergo train-the-trainer classes and become certified ABLE trainers. Letters supporting the Sherifff’s application were sent by Mayor Justin Wilson, Correctional Services Advisory Board Chair Amy Reed and Human Rights Commission Vice Chair Matt Harris.
“Now more than ever, communities across the country, and the law enforcement agencies that serve those communities, are recognizing that first responders must do a better job intervening when necessary to prevent their colleagues from causing harm or making costly mistakes,” ABLE states on its website. “ABLE training will be provided at no cost to local law enforcement agencies, but those agencies must commit to creating a culture of active bystandership and peer intervention through policy, training, support, and accountability.”
Salutes to my good friend, City of Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff, Dana Lawhorne, for his great work on joining the National ABLE Project!
Posted by Pat Malone on Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Recent Stories
It was a big week for getting a glimpse at Alexandria’s future. At a meeting this week, Deputy Director for Infrastructure and Environmental Quality Bill Skrabak offered an in-depth look…
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has unveiled the bluebell and cherry blossom-inspired art that will wrap around the exterior of the new Potomac Yard Metro station. Artist Rob…
A 2 BD/2 BA renovated townhome with an open floor plan, patio and fenced backyard in featured in Just Listed.
Alexandria transportation officials say that a pilot program to ease evening congestion on and around Duke Street is working and they want to make the changes permanent. City staff announced…
St. Paul’s Episcopal Preschool, a play-based, half-day preschool in the heart of Old Town, Alexandria has limited openings for the ’23-’24 school year.
SPEP offers:
- 18 month old – Kindergarten classes
- Full day Kindergarten option (3 days/week)
- Early Care
- Transportation (ages 3+)
- Weekly Field Trips (ages 3+)
- Financial Aid available
Monarch Montessori School located in the heart of Del Ray is enrolling children 6 weeks to 6 years of age for our half day and full day program.
Our hours of operation are 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday-Friday. Monarch Montessori School is open year round, with intermittent breaks.
Children engage in self-directed, self-initiated activities under the guidance of a trained Montessori teacher. Classroom sizes range from 8-12 students. Our robust curriculum includes botany, sensorial activities, the social graces, culture, math, science, practical life, geography, music appreciation and language arts.
You’ll get half off of the registration fee when you register and begin care with us before April 30, 2023.
Del Ray Dog Fest & Yappy Hour
The 1st Annual Del Ray Dog Fest is a fun outdoor event that will include dog-centered activities, dog menu items, live music, vendors and food on Sunday, April 2 from 11am- 3pm at the George Washington Middle School parking lot.
