Better outcomes for Law enforcement
Evanston First Alliance provides specialized training and regular opportunities for law enforcement officers to connect with Evanston youth in a consistently positive environment, improving outcomes both for officers and vulnerable populations.
Three main factors help law enforcement officers better protect themselves and the community they serve:
- Connecting with community members, especially teens, builds relationships and mutual understanding that fosters trust
- Specialized Tactical Athlete Training and Nutritional Consulting helps improve officers’ health and fitness, improving their ability to meet the physical and mental demands of their job while also reducing on-the-job injuries and improving recovery time from injuries
- Ongoing classes in the application of Minimum Necessary Force, taught by Evanston officers and complemented by the martial arts expertise of our staff, provide the officers with the tools and the practice needed to apply these techniques that safeguard both their safety and the safety of those involved in intense physical interactions
(Photo Credit: Richard Cahan from Evanston RoundTable)
Tactical Fitness Classes
Officers require a special brand of hybrid fitness that builds their strength, endurance, and mobility as it applies to situations they are likely to encounter in the field. A weightlifting routine or hours spent on the treadmill cannot tap into the specific and specialized energy requirements of a tactical athlete. So our classes include exercises that move through all three planes of movement, some of which focus on power, others on strength, and still others on endurance. We’ll utilize sleds, kettlebells, free weights, battle ropes, strength bands, cable machines, power racks, suspension trainers, medicine balls, as well as body weight to incrementally progress officers to a higher level of fitness.
Minimum Necessary Force Training
Officers who are better equipped to defend themselves are also better equipped to employ minimum necessary force. Training for LEOs began in Fall 2023. Select officers from the Evanston Police Department and the Skokie Police Department completed training to lead specialized training for their colleagues. Evanston First Alliance will provide regularly scheduled times and a suitable space for these classes to take place so officers can build and maintain their proficiency in these techniques.
Community Outreach
Law enforcement officers (LEOs) play a critical role in nurturing the community at Evanston First Alliance. In December of 2022, the Evanston Roundtable reported on a survey that showed that 67% of Evanston's citizens of color distrust the police. This distrust undermines genuine interaction and puts both citizens and LEOs at increased risk of adverse and even violent interactions. To build trust through consistent positive interactions, LEOs will be involved in nearly every aspect of our students’ experience at EFA.
Nutritional Support
Officers interested in improving their health through improved nutrition will be able to attend nutrition bootcamps and get ongoing personalized guidance from our staff of Sports Nutritionists on principles for how to improve health, to improve job performance, to reduce systemic inflammation, and to improve body composition.