Published March 24, 2021
The University of Louisiana Monroe Police Department (UPD) is at the forefront of
creating a new culture among law enforcement and is now exceptionally positioned to
serve as a mentor to area agencies seeking to do the same.
The two top officials with UPD, Director Tom Torregrossa and Assistant Director Mark
Johnson, with ULM Criminal Justice and Psychology Associate Professor Mkay Bonner,
Ph.D., are newly certified trainers in the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement
(ABLE) Project. They recently completed the week-long Train-the-Trainer course from
Georgetown Law.
The ABLE Project is an initiative committed to improving the police culture through
peer prevention that promotes professionalism and reduces unnecessary use of force.
Torregrossa said the entire ULM Police Department would receive the ABLE Project training
by April.
“The training is designed not only to reduce unnecessary use of force incidents but
to improve the culture of policing and reinforce trust among the campus and community
populations they serve,” he said.
According to Torregrossa, examining and implementing innovative practices that keep
professionalism and public service at the forefront of an agency's mission is an ongoing
challenge for any public service entity.
“The training is designed not only to reduce unnecessary use of force incidents but
to improve the culture of policing and reinforce trust among the campus and community
populations they serve.”
Director Tom Torregrossa
ULM Police Services
ULM's accomplishment of having certified trainers for the ABLE Project makes UPD,
and the region, a catalyst for change by implementing cutting-edge, evidence-based,
and field-tested policing practices.
"ABLE Project training has great potential to assist law enforcement, and we are excited
to bring this training to our university and the surrounding communities," said Torregrossa.
"ULM's criminal justice, psychology, and police departments hope to serve as a resource
for area agencies to enhance their knowledge and public safety commitments regarding
improved public relationships."
Letters of support for ULM becoming an ABLE Project agency were provided by 4th District Attorney Steve Tew, Monroe Area Guidance Center and Northeast Delta Crisis
Intervention Team,
Bonner was selected to join the ABLE Project team as a national trainer to assist
other agencies in the U.S. and Canada learn and implement the program, which aims
to create a police culture in which officers routinely intervene as necessary to prevent
misconduct, avoid police mistakes and promote officer health and wellness.
