Sikeston's Juden appointed to commission on officer training

The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission and Missouri Department of Public Safety will be updating the law-enforcement training standards in Missouri, thanks to a directive from Gov. Jay Nixon.

Nixon directed them to set forth new rules improving access to effective and ongoing tactical training and training in fair and impartial policing and the health and well-being of officers, according to a news release from Nixon's office. The new standards are due Dec. 1.

"The brave men and women of law enforcement put their lives on the line every day to protect us and keep our streets safe," Gov. Nixon said in the release. "We owe it to them -- and the citizens they serve -- to provide our law-enforcement officers with the knowledge and training they need to keep themselves and their communities safe."

The commission will hold public hearings around the state to gather input from law-enforcement agencies, advocacy groups and others on development of the new standards.

Nixon also made five appointments to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, among them Drew Juden, director of the Sikeston, Missouri, Department of Public Safety. Juden could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The other new appointees were from the St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri, areas. All appointees are subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate, the release stated.

The commission is responsible for establishing standards for peace officer basic training, officer continuing education, law-enforcement instructors and law-enforcement training academies, according to the release.

By statute, the commission must include three police chiefs; three sheriffs; one member representing a state law-enforcement agency; two members who are peace officers at or below the rank of sergeant employed by a political subdivision; one member who is a chief executive officer of a certified training academy; and one public member, the release stated.

kwebster@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3646

Pertinent address:

215 N New Madrid St, Sikeston, MO 63801