LaGrange Police Department offering racial intelligence training to its officers

LAGRANGE, GA (WTVM) - The LaGrange Police Department is now offering Racial Intelligence Training and Engagement (RITE) classes for its officers.

RITE addresses the public safety industry regarding the following:

• Wellness
• Executive leadership
• Diversity training, de-escalation communication
• Harassment
• Emotional and social intelligence
• Professional development
• Ethics

The department is one of the few agencies in the state to offer the courses.

Sergeant Mark Cavender is leading the class and believes RITE training is important because it focuses on the officer's overall wellbeing first.

"By training the officer how to identify and control external sources that may cause stress, the officer will be able to better utilize the tools taught in this training," said Cavender. "If we can teach and learn the techniques to control our stress, anger, and preconceived notions, we can better relate with empathy, sympathy and provide an overall better service to the community we serve."

RITE training has been adopted by several agencies across the country and more recently, the NFL after racial tensions developed between owners and players.

The LaGrange Police Department plans to incorporate RITE in its continuing education.

Copyright 2018 WTVM. All rights reserved.