Excellence Integrity Professionalism
Read the full notice here:
Please direct any questions to WILEAG Executive Director, Katie Wrightsman at executive.director@wileag.info
or
262-563-3108
Complete the certification request letter (included below) on Agency letterhead.
Include name of Chief Executive, Agency information, and contact email address.
Include Agency ORI, EIN (Employee Identification Number) and DUNS number.
Include a copy of your Use of Force policy
Email all documents to WILEAG at executive.director@wileag.info
Agencies that wish to have their Use of Force policy certified must comply with the two mandatory conditions for certification:
The Agency’s use-of-force policies adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws; and the Agency maintains use-of-force policies that prohibit the use of choke holds, except in those situations where the use of deadly force is allowed by law.
Agencies that wish to have their Use of Force policy certified must do the following:
ADDITIONAL FAQ:
Q. What is “Documentation of all local and County laws applicable to use of force” as listed on the WILEAG website?
R: The intent was to address the mandatory requirement that your policy adheres to local laws. If you have a local ordinance that governs your use of force, then we would ask that a copy of that ordinance should be sent along with your policy.
1. Use of Force Certification Request
2. Agency use of Force policy
If you have a local ordinance that governs your use of force, then we would ask that a copy of that ordinance should be sent along with your policy.
Additional documentation will be required if you have a county law or local ordinance that is more limiting or stringent than compliance with Graham v Connor, the WI DAAT manual, and LESB standards.
Q. What grant funding is subject to Use of Force policy certification?
R: This applies for all DOJ discretionary grants, which could include BJA, OJP, and Byrne/JAG grants. It also applies to sub awardees so if the State receives a DOJ discretionary grant and you are awarded a subgrant from that then you would need to comply. NHTSA and other traffic grants would not be applicable unless the grant was through DOJ. It is recommended that you confirm with the grant application coordinator if Use of Force policy certification is required.
Q. Is the Lateral Vascular Neck Restraint (LVNR) or similar carotid artery technique considered a choke hold?
R: The question on LVNR was not definitively answered. The National Consensus Policy on Use of Force, which the requirements were based on, includes Choke Holds and Vascular Neck Restraints in the definitions section.
Choke Hold – A physical maneuver that restricts an individual’s ability to breathe for the purposes of incapacitation.
Vascular Neck Restraint – A technique that can be used to incapacitate individuals by restricting the flow of blood to their brain.
The Executive Order does not mention Vascular Neck Restraints. It only addresses the prohibition of choke holds, except in those situations where the use of deadly force is justified by law. The COPS Office has verbally indicated that agencies should follow the strict definition of choke hold when making this determination.
If an agency chooses to maintain the use of a Vascular Neck Restraint as a force option, the following requirements will be necessary for WILEAG to find compliance.
1. Agencies choosing to maintain the use of a Vascular Neck Restraint as a force option must clearly identify the differences between a Choke Hold and a Vascular Neck Restraint in their policy.
2. The policy will need to address any procedures, restrictions, or limitations on the use of the Vascular Neck Restraint.
3. The policy must still prohibit the use of choke holds, except in situations where the use of deadly force is allowed by law
FAQ VIDEO: https://youtu.be/IaLDq8ZQEvw A CVMIC produced WILEAG FAQ (14-minute clip featuring WILEAG President Mark Ferguson)
Note: We have the ability to provide an ADA compliant production of this video – please notify WILEAG if you would like to receive that link.
USE OF FORCE POLICY CERTIFICATION
On June 16, 2020 President Trump issued an Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities. Part of the Executive Order instructs that the US Attorney General will allocate Department of Justice discretionary grant funding only to those State and local law enforcement agencies that have sought or are in the process of seeking appropriate credentials from a reputable independent credentialing body certified by the Attorney General. The Attorney General’s standards for certification shall require independent credentialing bodies to, at a minimum, confirm that:
The State or local law enforcement agency’s use-of-force policies adhere to all applicable Federal, State, and local laws; and
The State or local law enforcement agency’s use-of-force policies prohibit the use of chokeholds except in those situations where deadly force is allowed by law.
To receive discretionary DOJ grant funding your use of force policy must comply with the Attorney General’s requirements and be certified by an independent credentialing body. Agencies will be required to receive certification by January 31st to be eligible for federal funds in that year’s funding cycle. Certification is valid for three years.
The Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group (WILEAG) has been approved by the Attorney General’s Office as the primary independent credentialing body for Wisconsin. We will certify a requesting agency if their use of force policy complies with the two mandatory requirements.
Implementation of the Executive Order on
Safe Policing for Safe Communities
wisconsin law enforcement accreditation group
Step 1. Complete the WILEAG Use of Force Certification Request.
Step 2. You are required to submit two items to the WILEAG Executive Director at email address executive.director@wileag.info
If you have a local ordinance that governs your use of force, then we would ask that a copy of that ordinance should be sent along with your policy.
Use of Force Certification Request (all fields required).
The agency Use of Force policy.
If you have a local ordinance that governs your use of force then a copy of that ordinance should be sent along with your policy
Step 3. WILEAG will assign an assessor to conduct a review; that individual will provide documentation to the WILEAG Executive Board for a status decision.
Step 4. The agency CEO will receive notification of the WILEAG Executive Board decision.
Step 5. If not approved, WILEAG will provide the agency CEO with an explanation of the denial.
Step 5. If approved, WILEAG will send the agency CEO a certification letter and will notify the Director of the COPS office to include said agency within the database of certified law enforcement agencies qualified to receive U.S. Department of Justice Discretionary grant funding. Certification is applicable for a period of 3-years.
Note: Agencies not affiliated with WILEAG Accreditation and Core programs will be charged a policy review administrative fee of $100; the agency will be invoiced upon receipt of the Certification Request, Use of Force Policy and documentation of all local and county laws as they apply to the use of force.
All state agency chiefs and sheriffs will be notified of this requirement by WI-DOJ, Training and Standards Division; all will be instructed to pursue certification / credentialing through WILEAG.
A law enforcement agency must complete the process by January 31, 2021 to be considered for grant awards.
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