$300,000 Federal Grant Awarded To Illinois Holocaust Museum To Expand Police Training

SKOKIE, IL — The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center is set to expand its law enforcement training program statewide, thanks to nearly $300,000 in federal funding secured with the support of U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth.

"These funds will allow us to expand our reach and impact to departments across the state,” said Kelley Szany, the senior vice president of education and exhibitions at the Skokie- based museum.

Since 2011, the Skokie-based museum has trained officers in its Law Enforcement Action in Democracy, or LEAD, program, which emphasizes empathy, ethical decision-making, and community engagement.

“We are conscious of the crucial role that law enforcement plays in a functioning and just democracy, particularly because of the lessons we teach daily within our walls," Szany said, in a statement announcing the grant. "This program encourages a new dialogue between law enforcement personnel and their communities in an era when the challenges for both are greater than ever.”

Developed in collaboration with active and retired law enforcement officers, and certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, the training aims to draw from lessons from Holocaust history and contemporary law enforcement case studies to address root causes of crime and improve police-community relations. According to museum officials, it meets performance mandates in the categories of civil rights, constitutional and proper use of law enforcement authority, cultural competency and human rights.

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The expansion includes funding for more in-person training in Skokie, on-site by both museum staff and through a "train-the-trainer" model at law enforcement departments across the state and through remote trainings.

According to a description of the grant award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the $300,000 in funding could reach up to 47,000 sworn officers in Illinois from more than 2,700 towns.

"LEAD is a crucial training program, especially now, as incidents of police brutality have led to exacerbated racial tensions and growing distrust, and hate crimes continue to rise," according to a description of the grant award. As a result of the funding, it said officers will have better knowledge of hate crimes, the role of implicit bias in interactions with residents and increased empathy.

"We are so grateful to Senator Duckworth for her ongoing support of important services that enable law enforcement to do their work with authenticity and rigor," said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of the museum, announcing the grant.

“Since its inception, Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center's LEAD program has trained nearly 10,000 recruits and officers in the Chicagoland area, ensuring officers in our communities have the training and tools necessary for understanding abuses of authority, responding to hate crimes and bias, and balancing the rights of individuals with societal protection," Cherkasov said. "With rising antisemitism, bigotry, and violations of human rights, this funding allows us to reach tens of thousands of officers and make meaningful change in the community.”