Waterford approves $40,000 drug-forfeiture-funded training to expand active-threat response

The Waterford Township Board on Feb. 10 approved a $40,000 expenditure to expand active-threat training for the police department, using federal drug-forfeiture funds.

The department's chief told trustees that the training program — to be held at the Oakland County first-responder training facility in Ortonville — would provide a diagnostic refresher and a second day focused on single-officer movements and tactics. The plan covers two days of instruction for roughly 60 sworn officers; the chief described the average cost as about $650 per officer.

The chief said the department has progressively increased tactical training over the last seven years and stressed hands-on work that moves officers from individual response to coordinated team actions as more officers arrive on scene. He told the board: “We do not rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training.”

Funding and vote: The chief confirmed the training will be paid from federal drug-forfeiture funds. Trustee [motion maker not specified in the record] moved to approve the expenditure; the motion was seconded and passed on roll-call vote with all board members voting yes.

Why it matters: Trustees and other speakers described the training as an appropriate use of forfeiture funds and emphasized the importance of current tactical instruction for relatively younger, newer officers in the department. The training is intended to build officers’ capacity to act decisively and safely during active-threat incidents.

Implementation: The township expects to schedule the training at the county facility; the police department will finalize rostering and instructor details and return to the board only if additional funding or policy changes are required.