For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Reading Police Department Hosts Hate Crimes Training

READING – Deputy Chief David Clark is pleased to share that 33 Reading officers and supervisors, over the past two weeks, have attended additional training on hate crimes.

The training, provided by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), trains officers on recognizing and investigating hate crimes. Officers were also trained to work with victims and communities affected by hate crimes. The training is interactive and utilizes local case studies.

“This training provides our officers with an additional level of training and skills to investigate hate-based criminal activity,” Deputy Chief David Clark said. “We take all hate-based incidents in Reading seriously, and felt our officers’ participation in this training was important and necessary for us to continue to provide the best service to our community.”

The training was led by Talia Ben Sasson-Gordis. In addition to Reading officers, officials from Middlesex County and Essex County were in attendance.

“We are grateful for the leadership of the Reading Police Department in providing this training opportunity. It is imperative that all officers have the tools and knowledge to recognize and address hate and bias in their communities,” Ben Sasson-Gordis said. “The unique nature of hate crimes means that these crimes have a profound impact, not only on individual victims, but on the community as a whole. Learning how to identify incidents of hate and hate crimes, and knowing best practices to work with the community on these issues, is key for law enforcement to be able to keep the communities they serve safe.”

The ADL’s hate crimes training sessions are led by experienced trainers with extensive expertise on hate crimes and community response. Each training session is also tailored to meet the needs of the participating agency.

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