Community Informed Training

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Community Informed Law Enforcement Training (CIT) is a joint initiative between Grand Rapids' Office of Oversight and Public Accountability and the Grand Rapids' public safety departments that allows the community to submit proposals for trainings it would like public safety to participate in.

What should my proposal include?

Proposals are accepted on a year-round basis and should include:

  • A detailed description of the training
  • An explanation of the training's alignment with OPA's Values and Strategic Priorities
  • A timeline for the training
  • An explanation of the training's prior impact and/or prior success
  • An itemized budget
  • A detailed description of the training facilitator's background and experience, including resume and/or curriculum vitae
  • Your contact information

Preference will be given to training proposals that contain flexibility to accommodate the work schedules of our public safety personnel (e.g., a training proposal with multiple 90-minute weekly sessions offers very little flexibility).

What can I expect after submitting a proposal?

After submitting a proposal, you will be contacted by someone from our office to conduct a preliminary review of your proposal. The preliminary review is an informal meeting to discuss the feasibility of your proposal, as well as its alignment with OPA's Values and Strategic Priorities. You will also be given the opportunity to ask questions. You may be instructed to revise your proposal based upon the feedback and insight given at the preliminary review.

Once all concerns and/or changes are sufficiently addressed, your proposal will move to the CIT Advisory Committee review stage. This meeting is also informal and will include members from the Office of Equity and Engagement and the City's public safety departments. During this meeting, the Advisory Committee will holistically review your proposal and render a decision.

If my proposal is chosen, what happens next?

If your proposal is chosen, the City will award up to $10,000 for your training. These funds may be used for following:

  • hourly rate(s) for training facilitator(s)
  • training materials
  • travel and lodging (if applicable)
  • food and beverage for participants
  • other necessary items at the discretion of the CIT Advisory Committee

The CIT Advisory Committee will also work with you to schedule and finalize your training proposal, including identifying a time, place, and venue for the training.

Program Objectives (T.R.A.I.N.)

Train law enforcement to understand community concerns and increase cultural competency.

Repair bridges of trust between law enforcement and the community it serves.

Amplify the community's voice and role in policing.

Increase respect and understanding of marginalized groups.

Normalize positive interaction between law enforcement and the community.

OPA's Values

Transparency: Always being upfront and honest in what we do and say.

Responsibility: Always being accountable and considering the big picture.

Unity: Always working to build bridges to trust.

Equity: Always advancing just outcomes and opportunities by leading with racial equity to address root causes of disparities.

Justice: Doing the right thing by leading with fairness and impartiality without regard for political consequence.

OPA's Strategic Priorities

Change: OPA will help improve public safety policies and operations through innovation and collaboration.

Accountability: OPA will help improve individual, supervisory, and organizational accountability for public safety activities through civilian oversight of all public safety operations.

Restorative Justice: OPA will help reduce barriers to trust that have been created by systemic inequities in the criminal justice system or that cause disparate outcome.

Engagement and Empowerment: OPA will help enhance communication and education with the public regarding public safety matters.

Plus: Although OPA has a large focus on public safety operations, at the direction of the City Manager, OPA may investigate waste, abuse, fraud, or corruption in City operations and assists with other pertinent issues. The plus in our strategic plan is intended to incorporate the objective and strategies used to accomplish that work.

Submit a Proposal