TRENTON, N.J. — A recent report from the New Jersey state comptroller has raised serious concerns about a police training seminar conducted by Street Cop, a New Jersey-based law enforcement training company. The six-day seminar, held in October 2021 and attended by approximately 1,000 officers, including about 240 from New Jersey, has been criticized for its content and conduct.
The 43-page report details incidents of instructors making lewd comments about women and encouraging officers to conduct unwarranted traffic stops. Moreover, the report highlighted an instance where a photo of an ape was displayed following a discussion about pulling over a 75-year-old Black man, raising significant questions about racial sensitivity and professionalism within the training.
This seminar, primarily taxpayer-funded, comes under scrutiny during a period of heightened examination of law enforcement practices following high-profile civilian deaths in police custody, such as Tyre Nichols and George Floyd. These incidents have prompted widespread calls for police reform and better training.
New Jersey has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at reforming police conduct and fostering community trust for nearly a decade. Directives from the state attorney general have emphasized the importance of training in cultural awareness, diversity, de-escalation, communication skills, and professionalism.
The comptroller’s report on the Street Cop training seminar suggests a disconnect between these statewide efforts and the practices of certain private training providers.