PERF Refuses to Discuss Proposed Standards

by Sean Van Leeuwen


Sean Van Leeuwen

While Chuck Wexler, Executive Director of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) is more than willing to speak to newspaper reporters, editorial boards, and politicians about his recently proposed "PERF use of force principles," there appears to be one audience he wants to avoid: rank-and-file peace officers.

We issued an invitation to Mr. Wexler on April 11, 2016 , asking him to join us in a forum we would host in Los Angeles to discuss his proposals before rank and file deputies and police officers.

Mr. Wexler's response: crickets.

Ironically, one key PERF's proposal on use of force calls for peace officers to "consider how the public will view the action" before deciding to employ force. Let's apply that PERF concept to our invitation for Mr. Wexler. "How will rank-and-file peace officers view Mr. Wexler's refusal to discuss the PERF guidelines before audiences of rank-and-file deputies and police officers?"

Interestingly, Mr. Wexler laments in the Washington Post about backlash to his proposals from police chiefs, sheriffs, and rank and file peace officers. Mr. Wexler claims that his proposals were just part of a "national conversation" about the use of force, and that "people are reading into it what they want." Well, no, Mr. Wexler, we are just reading your proposals as written.

As Washington Post reporter Tom Jackson noted, "And in an extraordinary partnership, the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police issued a joint statement denouncing the proposals from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), saying that "we must continue to place our trust in the law enforcement practitioners who protect our streets and neighborhoods."

Mr. Wexler doesn't hesitate to provide commentary or explanation of his PERF principles for newspapers or editorial boards. Witness, for example, just this past week when Mr. Wexler was quick to dish up quotes to AP Reporter Paul Elias after the April 7th fatal shooting of a knife wielding suspect by San Francisco Police. That makes it all the more astounding that Mr. Wexler refuses to discuss the PERF proposals with the most logical audience---the peace officers he wants to implement those policies.

That is all the more reason, Mr. Wexler, why you should agree to come to Los Angeles and explain his " 30 Guiding Principles " for police use of force, subtitled "Taking Policing to a Higher Standard" to rank-and-file peace officers. If we misunderstand what your proposals intend, what better way to correct those misunderstandings by explaining your proposals in person---with a healthy "give and take". In fact, we invite Chiefs and Sheriffs to attend as well, because we want to ensure your message reaches, in person, those whose behaviors you seek to change.

The invitation remains open; you have our letter, Mr. Wexler, please call us.

To read our previous pieces on this topic, please see (1) Cops Should Help Define the Use of Force Standards , (2) Defining the Debate Over the Use of Force (3) Police reform Ideas that lack merit

Sean Van Leeuwen is Vice President of Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. ALADS is the collective bargaining agent and represents more than 8,200 deputy sheriffs and district attorney investigators working in Los Angeles County. Sean can be at [email protected].

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