Justice Department would offer online dementia training for law enforcement

The Justice Department would have to offer an online training course about Alzheimer’s disease and similar forms of dementia. The department’s community policing office would develop the course with federal health officials. The course would cover recognizing symptoms, communicating effectively, alternatives to physical restraints, and signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The course would have to be established no later than one year after the bill becomes law.

The Justice Department would recommend that state agencies count course participation toward required training hours. The recommendation would cover training hours required to become or remain a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or correctional probation officer. The provision would require a recommendation, but would not require states to award credit.