October 31, 2005

Lansing - Today, 28 law enforcement officers from 15 different agencies received certification at the Michigan State Police Training Academy to teach personal safety lessons in schools across Michigan.

The officers are graduates of the Teaching, Educating, And Mentoring (T.E.A.M.) School Liaison Project developed by the Michigan State Police (MSP) Prevention Services Section. T.E.A.M. is a proactive effort to make schools and communities safer by promoting an understanding of social rules, the consequences of unlawful behavior, and students’ responsibilities as good citizens.

"It is very rewarding to see the dedication and commitment these officers have shown to bring the important safety messages of T.E.A.M. to the children," said First Lieutenant Phil Hart, commander of the Michigan State Police Prevention Services Section. "The T.E.A.M. program is being actively presented in approximately 250 Michigan school districts. It is the continued partnerships of schools, parents, communities, and law enforcement agencies which help promote safety for Michigan children."

The MSP introduced the school liaison program in July 1998. Since that time, 348 county and local officers and 184 MSP officers have received training to teach T.E.A.M. in Michigan schools.

The T.E.A.M. training allows officers to teach at any of the three levels of education–elementary, middle, or high school–in Michigan schools. The elementary school curriculum teaches students basic safety rules such as bicycle and pedestrian safety and the proper use of 911. Lesson plans have also been added to teach fire and gun safety and being safe on the Internet.

The middle school curriculum is designed to improve the citizenship skills of students and provide an understanding of rules and laws in society. It also teaches teens skills on how to recognize and be more aware of personal safety issues. The curriculum also exposes students to the cause and effect of violence and teaches how to constructively handle conflict.

The high school curriculum provides a realistic picture of the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement officers. It also educates students in the practical application of constitutional law and creates awareness regarding personal safety issues such as sexual harassment and bias-motivated violence (hate crimes). The high school curriculum also provides a realistic look at what causes young people to get angry and then provides them with the skills necessary to resolve conflicts and develop good problem solving skills.

The most recently developed module is a Family Preparedness/Homeland Security lesson that teaches students, Kindergarten through 12th grade, the importance of being involved in their community and to prepare them in advance for natural and manmade disasters. It also involves the students and their families to create a "go-kit" that would contain necessary items for an emergency.

On October 28, the following officers completed T.E.A.M. training:

Read more news releases from the Michigan State Police.