According to a press release from the Florida Senate
Democrats, the academy will aid in the recruitment and training of future minority
law enforcement officers. It aims to make sure that local police forces have an
ample supply of well-qualified minority officers to serve them so they can
better reflect the diversity of the state’s communities.
“Studies show that officers with college degrees have less
problems,” Smith said in a comment to WFSU.
The bill adds that the curriculum will also provide
“participation in youth mentoring projects that help to dismantle negative
perceptions of law enforcement officers and support creation of stronger
relationships between youth residing in racially and culturally diverse
communities and law enforcement officers.”