Boise Police officers spent over 20,000 hours training in 2019. Our officers train quarterly on topics including use of force, de-escalation, the appropriate use of tools and tactics, implicit bias, legal training, crisis intervention, leadership and other topics. Our Training Committee continuously evaluates our tools, tactics, and training to ensure that they remain in line with national best practices.
Implicit Bias Training
In FY2019 all sworn and civilian employees completed implicit bias training at the Boise Police Department. BPD developed the in-person training after extensive research. Implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions and decisions in an unconscious manner. Ongoing education and training on this important topic is imperative to building a more inclusive organization. Training our employees on the best practices for bias free policing also allows us to continue to provide the highest level of service to our citizens.
BPD Policy 2.030 Unbiased Policing
BPD is committed to safeguarding the rights of all people while enforcing the State and City Ordinances. Employees will not engage in any law enforcement activities that are discriminatory based on race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other applicable legally protected status.
View BPD Policy and Procedures manual
Crisis Intervention Training and Behavioral Health Program
100% of our officers have completed the 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team Training (exceeding the national standard of 20%). Upon completion of the course, officers/first responders are better equipped to understand common signs and symptoms of mental illnesses and co-occurring disorders; recognize when those signs and symptoms represent a crisis situation; safely de-escalate individuals experiencing behavioral health crises; and utilize community resources and diversion strategies to provide assistance. BPD Behavioral Health Response team is comprised of two civilian Behavioral Health Coordinators and two full-time sworn co-responders. The team proactively works within the community to intervene by providing support to individuals in crisis and to those identified with a mental illness who have multiple or high-risk contacts with police.
Use of Force Statistics
BPD responded to a total of 152,958 calls for service in 2019, either through dispatch or through officer-initiated calls, only 111 or .073% of those instances resulted in a use of force by responding officers.