James Madison's Montpelier We The People Spring 2017 Montpelier_WTP_Spring2017_FINAL-1-web | Page 23

SPRING 2017
There is a crisis of trust between police and the community . The Center ’ s curriculum draws on the perspectives of law enforcement leaders , prosecutors , and scholars to advance broader constitutional goals of understanding the role of law enforcement as being a guardian of the Constitution , rather than needing cops to have a warrior mentality . “ If the community knows that you ’ re aware of what the Constitution says and that you ’ re committed to doing only the things the Constitution allows you to do , the community ’ s going to get behind you ,” says David Rossman , Director of Clinical Programs in Criminal Law and Professor of Law , Boston University School of Law . “ Your job ’ s going to be easier , and it ’ s going to be safer .”
To date , the Center has worked with officers from local , state , and federal agencies including the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services ( DCJS ), the agency in charge of providing training to the Commonwealth ’ s officers . “ Law enforcement officers take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the United States ,” says Teresa Gooch , the Law Enforcement Division Director for DCJS . “ The best way an officer can uphold , support , and defend the Constitution is to have a thorough understanding of what is required of them .” DCJS has accredited the Center ’ s three-day introductory and advanced residential seminars as providing in-service , or professional development , credit for officers who attend .
“ In almost 22 years of law enforcement , this is the first class I have attended that gave me a better understanding of the basis for the Constitution .”
In addition to hearing from top state judges and former heads of major federal agencies , participants engage with a wide range of scenariobased constitutional issues . Participants also wrestle with the effects of false confessions and wrongful convictions and emergent constitutional challenges . “ This is what we do every day of our careers . It should be mandatory for all LEOs ,” said a recent participant . A colleague echoed his sentiments , saying that “ in almost 22 years of law enforcement , this is the first class I have attended that gave me a better understanding of the basis for the Constitution .”
With the support of DCJS and the Virginia Office of the Attorney General , the Center has also developed “ Constitutional Foundations for Law Enforcement ,” the state ’ s only online course dedicated to a comprehensive and deep exploration of law enforcement ’ s role in protecting constitutional rights . Teresa Gooch describes the course as “ an excellent opportunity for law enforcement officers to sharpen and reinforce their knowledge of the Constitution through a series of realistic scenarios that are directly related to their duties and responsibilities .”
The Center will host four law enforcement training opportunities in 2017 , with an expansion plan in the works to offer more programs over the next five years . Montpelier ’ s work with the Commonwealth ’ s public safety community will range from first-line officers to chiefs , and beyond . It ’ s a programmatic move that aligns with one of Montpelier ’ s main goals — to promote the Madisonian principle that a healthy democratic society relies on an engaged public whose rights are protected by an equally dedicated and informed law enforcement community .

DON ’ T MISS THE CENTER ’ S NEW WEB SERIES

Montpelier has compiled a web series examining a swath of Constitutional issues and their modern relevance . The Center worked with Richmond PD to produce a video cataloging a day in the life of an African American police officer , highlighting that a deep understanding of the Constitution is essential to effective policing . They released a story on slavery and the Constitution , detailing the Framers ’ role in upholding race-based slavery and examining slavery-related amendments . The Center continues to roll out thought-provoking content that includes ( 1 ) Constitutional Toolkit , ( 2 ) Living Constitution , ( 3 ) Bill of Rights , and ( 4 ) Law Enforcement about the Constitution as the political backbone of our country . To read the web series and view the video , check out montpelier . org / center-for-the-constitution .
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