Effort to give officers bonuses for training stirs anger.
Massachusetts’ Republican governor is pushing a plan to give bonuses up to $5,000 to officers who complete “advanced” training in such areas as de-escalation and bias-free policing. Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposal has enraged some activists who say officers shouldn’t have to be paid extra to undergo crucial training and that government leaders should instead be diverting money from police budgets into things like community-based services. Baker defended the proposal on Tuesday, saying “it’s important if you want people to up their game.” The proposal comes amid calls by protesters nationwide to “defund the police” over the death of Floyd and other Black Americans killed by law enforcement.
-Associated Press
