PUEBLO — The Pueblo Police Department is joining part of a nationwide initiative to "reduce mistakes" among police task forces, right in the middle of Black History Month.
The Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project originated at Georgetown University Law as part of their Innovative Policing Program. ABLE's mission is to "prepare officers to successfully intervene to prevent harm and to create a law enforcement culture that supports peer intervention". A total of 70 law enforcement agencies across the county are now part of the initiative, and the PPD was chosen as one of three in Colorado to take part in the program.
The PPD's application was approved, thanks in-part to the support of Pueblo's NAACP branch.
"This program just amplifies the fact that we need intervention, we need officers intervening in other officers actions and not feel like they’re ostracized," said President of the Pueblo NAACP Roxana Mack.
Captain James Martin with PPD says the department wants to remain on the "cutting edge" of law enforcement by utilizing innovative ideas like ABLE.
“We need to have heart in this community," said Martin, while discussing why other entities outside of law enforcement should implement the same tactics. "We need to continue to care about each other cause we’re all Puebloeans and that’s what’s so great about this program is that it’s all about heart and caring."
The training is department wide and will even include some civilians.
Pueblo's NAACP is trying to recruit more youth into their program, in hopes of beginning a youth committee soon. If you're interested in learning more about Pueblo's NAACP, reach out here.
