Rena Kates

Rena, a J.D., is a Senior Law Instructor at the Baltimore Police Department Training Academy, Education and Training Section, where she teaches constitutional law and criminal law to entry level police officer trainees and delivers legal training to current law enforcement members. Rena has developed and implemented Department-wide courses on topics including Stops, Searches, and Arrests, Hate Crimes, and Youth Interactions. She has also worked closely with the Department of Justice to advance organizational reform under a consent decree, focusing on policy development and implementation, training, and accountability.

 

The Baltimore Police Department is one of the largest municipal police forces in the United States, staffed by nearly 3,000 civilian and sworn personnel. The Baltimore Police Department is dedicated to upholding the Constitution and enforcing laws in a fair, impartial, and ethical manner. The mission of the Education and Training Section is to: assess the training needs of the Baltimore Police Department; develop and implement safe and effective training that incorporates modern and relevant adult learning modalities; prepare police officer trainees to assume the duties and responsibilities of sworn law enforcement officers; provide continuing education and training to in-service personnel that maintains and enhances their knowledge and skills; provide advanced and specialized training that prepares personnel for new assignments, opportunities for growth in areas of expertise, and promotion to higher ranks.