During Police Week, Bipartisan Whitehouse Bill to Improve Commander-Level Police Training Passes Out of Committee

Promoting Police Leadership Act will provide more training opportunities for the police leaders who run day-to-day operations and improve community relations

Washington, D.C. - To mark Police Week, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced that the bipartisan Promoting Police Leadership Act was approved this morning by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The legislation, which is also sponsored by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), will support the development of commander-level law enforcement leadership training and education curricula to enhance the performance of police operations, increase officer accountability and wellness, improve resource management, and strengthen community relations.

"Rhode Islanders can be very proud of our law enforcement officers. State and local police do an exceptional job keeping our communities safe, often in uncertain and dangerous circumstances," said Whitehouse. "This Police Week, I am very pleased to announce that my bipartisan Promoting Police Leadership Act has advanced out of committee and is well on its way to helping improve training for the officers who make many of the day-to-day decisions that affect their communities."

The Promoting Police Leadership Act has strong support from Rhode Island's law enforcement community.

"As a 40-year veteran of law enforcement-having served as a Chief of Police, the Director of the COPS Office, and now a university public safety leader-I have seen firsthand that the greatest challenges facing modern policing cannot be solved by tactical training alone. They require sophisticated leadership, data-driven management, and a commitment to evidence-based practices. By equipping the next generation of law enforcement executives with a rigorous, curriculum-based education, we aren't just improving individual departments; we are professionalizing the field and strengthening the bond of trust between police and the communities they serve," said Brown University Police Chief and Vice President for Public Safety Col. Hugh T. Clements Jr.

"Strong leadership is critical to effective policing. This legislation recognizes that the decisions made at the command level shape everything from officer performance to community trust," said Colonel Michael E. Correia, President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association. "By expanding access to high-quality, evidence-based training for our mid-level leaders, the Promoting Police Leadership Act will help ensure departments across Rhode Island and the country are better equipped to meet today's complex public safety challenges. It's a smart, forward-looking investment in both our officers and the communities we serve."

While the law enforcement profession requires continuous training and education, training programs often do not keep pace with new demands placed on officers. Training standards can differ across jurisdictions, and educational opportunities may be limited beyond early career instruction.

The gap in accessible training is particularly striking at the mid-level leadership tier, where day-to-day operational decisions are made. Captains, majors, and precinct or district commanders oversee large sections of a department, making decisions that directly affect officer performance and public safety outcomes.

The Promoting Police Leadership Act supports the development of commander-level leadership training curricula, providing a voluntary framework that law enforcement agencies can adapt and use to support officers and improve operational effectiveness.

The bipartisan bill would task the U.S. Attorney General and Department of Justice with developing a broad training curricula framework for commander-level personnel in consultation with state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, academic institutions, and other relevant partners. The legislation would also establish a voluntary certification process for the Attorney General to identify high-quality training programs that align with the broader DOJ framework and provide instruction to police departments.

The legislation is endorsed by Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Major County Sheriffs of America, and National Narcotic Officers' Associations' Coalition.

Whitehouse and Cornyn have previously teamed up on the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act, a 2022 law that required the Department of Justice to work with experts to develop comprehensive trainings on de-escalation tactics, alternatives to use of force, safely responding to mental, behavioral, and suicidal crises, and making referrals to community-based mental and behavioral health services and other social programs.

The text of the Promoting Police Leadership Act can be found here.