Public Safety

Mandatory training proposed for security guards

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By ZHAO PENG
Capital News Service
LANSING — The Michigan Contract Security Association is pushing to establish the first statewide training requirements for security guards. There are 23,960 security guards serving at hospitals, schools, local governments facilities, retail stores and other locations in Michigan, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They are responsible for preventing theft, violence and other misconduct. However, there are currently no unified training standards or even compulsory training for security guards in Michigan, according to the association. “There are no training requirements at all,” said Larry Julian, the executive director of the association.

Education

State provides training to prepare inmates for workforce

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By ZHAO PENG
Capital News Service
LANSING — Since 2014, only 30 percent of parolees in Michigan have found a job after being released from prison. The other 70 percent are struggling, according to the Department of Corrections. Chris Gautz, a public information officer from the department, said parolees find jobs in sectors ranging from fast food to restaurants to factories to agriculture. Some are even starting their own business. The department provides educational resources to help prepare prisoners for their release.

Business & Economy

Community colleges push job training for new workers

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By YUEHAN LIU
Capital News Service
LANSING—Michigan employers can get free job training for their new workers from local community colleges. While Michigan companies are expanding and hiring more workers, many need training for skills. Where can employers find an organization to provide that training? The Michigan Community College Association says: their local community college. Michael Hansen, president of the association, said the New Jobs Training Program uses state income taxes paid by the newly hired workers to repay the community colleges for the cost of training.

Diversity Issues

Culture, lack of training impede police-community trust, officials say

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By CAITLIN McARTHUR
Capital News Service
LANSING — Lack of training funds and outdated cultures in smaller departments are among the factors interfering with improved police-community relations in Michigan, state officials say. Michigan is turning out better police recruits than ever, but many are moving into departments that are still ruled by old-fashioned cultures, said Matt Wesaw, executive director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. “We’re training today the best police officer that we’ve ever trained,” said Wesaw, a retired State Police trooper. “I don’t care what academy you go to, we are training the best police officers.”

New police officers typically receive training on how to interact with people of different cultures and counteract their own unconscious biases, Wesaw said. Michigan police officers must complete nearly 600 hours of training, and state troopers need 1,000 hours, said Michigan State Police Public Affairs Director Shanon Banner.

Environment

Jobs in timbering, wood products go begging

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By ERIC FREEDMAN
Capital News Service
LANSING — The woods are calling, and so are logging and wood products companies. Calling for skilled employees, that is. Experts say the labor shortage hampers economic growth. Many experienced foresters and other workers in Northern Michigan are retiring. At the same time, jobs in other industries such as mining, energy and construction often pay higher wages than those at timber-related companies.