ALBUQUERQUE – More than a hundred and twenty-five officers from federal, state, county, local and tribal law enforcement agencies from across the state are participating in the Department of Justice’s VALOR Training this week. The VALOR Training program, which is provided by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), is designed for frontline law enforcement to promote officer safety and to help prevent the injuries and deaths of law enforcement officers and the people they serve.
The three-day VALOR Training is being hosted by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez and Chief Gorden E. Eden, Jr., of the Albuquerque Police Department, from Feb. 7 to 9, 2017, in Albuquerque, N.M. During the training, participants will learn the importance of observing and listening to individuals, which may help them locate hidden weapons, identifying indicators of a potential assault, or defusing dangerous situations, enhancing their resiliency, and implementing casualty and care tactics.
BJA launched the VALOR Initiative in 2010 in response to the startling increase in felonious assaults that have taken the lives of many law enforcement officers. Since then, the VALOR Initiative has evolved to provide all levels of law enforcement with tools to enhance their safety, wellness, resilience and survivability.
“Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day as they safeguard our communities and us,” said U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez. “BJA’s VALOR Training is part of the Justice Department’s commitment to supporting our officers and providing them with the best training available to protect themselves and each other when they are on the job.”
“Having participated in this training myself, I am very grateful that the Department of Justice is bringing this training back to New Mexico,” said Chief Gorden E. Eden, Jr., of the Albuquerque Police Department.
VALOR is a comprehensive effort that includes classroom and Web-based training, research, and resources for sworn state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. VALOR training provides critical nationwide, no-cost officer safety training to all levels of law enforcement. Both on-site and online training modules are developed using the latest expertise, analysis, tactics, techniques, and response methods to address alarming trends. Since the inception of the initiative, more than 21,000 law enforcement personnel across the country have received VALOR Training.