The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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December 7, 2011

20 EPD officers attend CLEET session Tuesday

By Cass Rains, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — Hundreds of law enforcement officers across the state face suspension Jan. 1 unless they complete an eight-hour investigative course required by state law.

Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training, which trains and certifies officers across the state, has a list of agencies on its website with at least one officer who has not completed the state-mandated training in evidence based sexual assault. Those who do not complete the training by Jan. 1 will be subject to suspension and required to pay a $150 reinstatement fee after they meet required training guidelines.

CLEET held a training session Tuesday at Autry Technology Center for the required evidence-based sexual assault training.

Enid Police Department had about 20 in attendance, the last from the department needing to receive the training to avoid suspension of their certification.

“The last group went through yesterday,” Capt. Dean Grassino said Wednesday. “We have all of our people through it.”

He said getting the entire department trained in a specific course can be a daunting at times.

“It’s definitely a strain to get people in these classes,” Grassino said. “For one, it takes them off the street. If you have some from afternoon shift, you have to find people to cover duties or work extra to be on patrol. The same thing goes for the night shift.”

However, officers have had several years to obtain the training.

“In all fairness, CLEET did give you plenty of notice to get it done,” Grassino said.

He said department uses every opportunity it can to train officers at the department.

“We’re trying to do a lot of training in our new facility ,” he said. “It just so happens that’s one class we can’t do here.”

The law requiring the training applies to every certified peace officer in the state.

“It’s from the chief down to the lowest patrolman, you’ve got to have it,” Grassino said, noting Chief Brian O’Rourke attended Tuesday’s training session.

Garfield County Undersheriff Jerry Niles said every required member of the department has received the mandated training,

“All of our people are trained,” Niles said. “We are all in compliance.”

He said deputies got their training done well in advance of the deadline.

“Our department takes training very serious, and we try and get as much training for our deputies as possible, either in service, through CLEET or other agencies. Even out of state,” he said.

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