Risk-sharing news TRACIE EVERSON | SAFETY BENEFITS, INC. Law Enforcement and Corrections Training

Providing our communities with law enforcement and corrections services has never been more challenging. Officers are asked to make the right decision at the right time every time. Unfortunately, time to think a situation through is a luxury that most emergency events don’t offer. That is why being prepared for events involving liability risk is so important. Up-to-date policies and programs and ongoing training are essential. Fortunately, Members of the South Dakota Public Assurance Alliance (SDPAA) have such tools available to them at no cost.

SDPAA, through Safety Benefits, Inc. (SBI), partners with the Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute (LLRMI) to provide Members with a variety of risk management support services for law enforcement and corrections departments. As an added incentive, by taking certain actions to reduce risk SDPAA Members may earn credits to reduce the cost of law enforcement liability coverage.

LEGAL & LIABILITY RISK MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (LLRMI)

LLRMI is a network of risk management professionals dedicated to enhancing professionalism and effectiveness while reducing liability risk for law enforcement and corrections agencies. Liability risks are reduced through training, policy and procedure implementation, and legal support. LLRMI has developed model policies and procedures and online training for law enforcement and corrections departments.

Available to SDPAA Members POLICIES & PROCEDURES AGREEMENT

Entering into the Law Enforcement Policies and Procedures Agreement with SDPAA is the first step toward earning a law enforcement credit. Through the agreement agencies commit to: adopting, implementing, and training on written policies and procedures on 12 high risk critical tasks identified by LLRMI. Members also agree to incorporate policy updates as they are provided by LLRMI and allow SBI to inspect written policies and procedures, and training records during loss control surveys.

Policies focused on the 12 high critical tasks are as follows:

1. Response to Resistance (Use of Force)

2. Duty to Intervene

3. Vehicle Pursuit & Emergency Vehicle Operation

4. Stop, Arrest & Search of Persons

5. Transportation & Restraint of Prisoners

6. Domestic Violence Misconduct & Domestic Violence Investigations

7. Off-Duty Actions

8. Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct

9. Hiring Practices

10. Internal Affairs

11. Dealing with Persons of Diminished Capacity

12. Property & Evidence

Available to SDPAA Members

Model Policies And Procedures

LLRMI currently has 89 road policies and 87 jail policies available online to Members of the SDPAA. South Dakota law and case law are considered in each policy. These documents are updated by LLRMI whenever revisions are prompted by court cases or changes in the law. A general review is conducted of these policies every three years.

A key component in policy implementation is training on the

and Support

policies that a department has in place. Fortunately, LLRMI has training available for each of the policies they provide. Law Enforcement Training (LET) recognizes this training towards officer recertification hours.

Available to SDPAA Members

Online Training For Law Enforcement

LLRMI offers e-learning for law enforcement and corrections agencies. Once enrolled, users can log in anytime, anywhere on a desktop, laptop, smart phone, or tablet. The learning library contains over 200 courses and quizzes, with options to customize training. Program administrators/supervisors can assign courses to staff, monitor progress and view course results. User support is available 24/7.

Available to SDPAA and/or SDML Workers’ Compensation Fund Members JAIL TRAINING PROGRAM

Corrections employees face a unique set of challenges that require attention and training. Frequently, Member jails report that they don’t have sufficient staffing to allow employees to be gone for the length of time training demands. In 2021, the SDPAA and SDML WCF worked with SBI to create a jail training program that provides in-person training on-site at the location of the jail or corrections facility. Members are encouraged to work with Matthew Petersen of the SBI team to schedule this training.

SBI LAW ENFORCEMENT/ CORRECTIONS EXPERTISE

SBI loss control surveys and training sessions for law enforcement and corrections are led by Jeff Lanning and Matthew Petersen. Because of their backgrounds, both Jeff and Matthew can appreciate and empathize with most any law enforcement or corrections issue a local public entity may experience in South Dakota.

As SBI’s main contact to LLRMI, Jeff guides SDPAA law enforcement members in this area to ensure they understand the services available to them through LLRMI. Jeff works closely with the leaders at LLRMI to get member questions answered and to distribute updated information from LLRMI as it becomes available.

Matthew is SBI’s contact for the jail training program. In addition to his background as a SD Highway Patrol, Matthew’s professional experience as a corrections officer makes him uniquely qualified to provide this training. Matthew works with jails to help them identify their greatest areas of safety and liability risk and then develops a training program to best address those areas.

LLRMI NATIONAL TRAINING CONFERENCE MAY 1-3 IN SOUTH DAKOTA

LLRMI is bringing their national training event to Deadwood, SD, in May of 2023! The conference is titled Shaping and Influencing Law Enforcement Liability and Risk Management and is a great opportunity for:

• Law enforcement and corrections personnel wanting to further professionalize the way their services are delivered.

• Law enforcement and corrections personnel concerned about controlling increasing losses in their budgets due to significant cost increases for coverage.

• Law enforcement, corrections, and loss control personnel who seek proactive solutions to reduce liability losses.

• Claims adjusters trying to get a handle on law enforcement/ corrections case evaluations in an ever-changing environment.

Topics featured at this event will include agency liability/individual liability, the defining principles of loss control and risk management in law enforcement/ corrections, the nuts and bolts of law enforcement and corrections liability, digital evidence, managing public information and social media, and more.

Go to www.LLRMI.com or www.safetybenefits.com for more information and to register for the LLRMI Law Enforcement Liability Risk Management Conference scheduled for May 1-3, 2023, in Deadwood. SBI hopes to see you there!

Questions about the services discussed in this article can be directed to Safety Benefits, Inc. at 605.334.9567 or 1.888.313.0839. ■