MANSFIELD, PA (03/07/2023) The Mansfield Public Safety Training
Institute (MUPSTI) at Commonwealth University-Mansfield recently hosted
some high-profile guests from state government for a presentation on
establishing a consistent and adaptable training model for law
enforcement, designed to be proactive, addressing crises before they
happen.
Among those attending the sessions were Auditor General
Tim DeFoor, PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency Executive Director
Michael Pennington, and the Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity,
as well as members of the PA Inspector General’s Law Enforcement
Commission, and members of the PA State Police.
Members of the
Emergency Response Training and Certification Association (ERTCA),
MUPSTI, Arcadia Cognerati, MILO, and Commissioner Erick Coolidge gave
the presentation.
“The intent is to fund a pilot training program
to assess its effectiveness in enhancing public safety and the safety of
law enforcement officers,” said Dr. Joshua Battin, senior associate
dean of the MUPSTI. “Secondarily, the data collected will focus, not
only on safety outcomes, but the training needs of the agencies.”
The
model establishes that continual, interconnected training is essential
to the comprehension, digestion, and proper employment of proactive law
enforcement techniques in the community. The foundation of the model is
to focus specifically on identifying and addressing variables that lead
to undesirable outcomes before they happen. It also assumes and accounts
for the ever-changing landscape of police training, technology, and
techniques.
“It is important that our stakeholders, including
elected officials, know the many ways our institution, through the
MUPSTI, is working to offer training to law enforcement, first
responders and other public safety professionals in Pennsylvania that is
grounded in best practices,” said Commonwealth University President
Bashar Hanna.
“The Mansfield University Public Safety Training
Institute is an exceptional resource, and I was thrilled to visit and
see what it’s all about,” Treasurer Garrity said. “Great work is being
done here to ensure first responders and community members have the
training they need to care for and protect their communities. I’m
certain that as the need for this type of training continues to grow and
evolve, Tioga County will become a hub for this top-notch training, not
only in the northern tier, but for our whole Commonwealth and beyond.”
The
MUPSTI provides comprehensive initial and continuing education to first
responders. Established in 2018, MUPSTI was specifically created to
fill the apparent need for this training in the north central region of
Pennsylvania. The foundation of the institute is PA Act 120 Municipal
Police Officers Training Academy and PA Act 235-Armed Security Guard
Academy.