INDIANAPOLIS -- New recruits with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department received training Thursday about implicit bias.
IMPD says it's something everyone carries with them -- unconscious beliefs about a specific group of people.
"There's a lot of fear around implicit bias. A fear that is associated with racism and that is part of an implicit bias, and now we are seeing that fear act out in really scary ways," said Katie Blair, ACLU Director of Advocacy.
The recruits are the first to receive the new training since the deadly police shooting of Aaron Bailey.
Two officers fired at Bailey, who was unarmed, after he fled from a traffic stop on June 29, 2017. Bailey was struck multiple times and died at the scene.
"I wanted to serve my community and show people from where I come from that you can also do positive things in your community as well," said Frank Gunn, IMPD recruit.
Gunn was raised on Indianapolis' east side.
He says he can provide perspective for both his fellow officers and members of his own community, especially when it comes to implicit bias training.
"Are you able to withhold those biases and police at the same time? Because if you're using police work and using your biases with that police work, it's unsafe and it's unjust," said Gunn.
"Understanding that everybody has a bias, whether it's across gender lines, ethnicity lines, and how those processes work in the brain and how to overcome them and treat people the same," said Maj. Richard Riddle, IMPD.
The American Civil Liberties Union has been pushing for this type of training since the death of Aaron Bailey.
"While we are happy to see that this training is happening, we know that nothing can bring back the life of Aaron Bailey and it's up to us as a community to make sure that instances like that no longer happen," said Blair.
The Indianapolis Civilian Police Merit Board voted 5-2 on May 10 to clear officersCarlton "C.J." Howard and Michael Dinnsen of wrongdoing in Bailey's fatal shooting.
FULL HEARING COVERAGE | In emotional testimony, officer recounts fatal shooting of Aaron Bailey | Officer in Aaron Bailey shooting: ‘I thought I was going to die that night’ | IMPD Chief Bryan Roach grilled at termination hearing for officers who shot Aaron Bailey
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