Welcome to Equity Corner

Welcome to the October Equity Corner. This issue focuses on recent developments and reform effects on police departments across our country. The video of the murder of George Floyd last year raised awareness in our nation, and the world, of the relationship between police and communities of color and highlighted racial inequities. Since that time, a lot has happened - some good things, and some bad. The last few weeks have been very eventful, and this Equity Newsletter will feature some of those things.

Our outcomes can be no less than fewer people killed; fewer people in jail. Chris Burbank, Former Police Chief and V.P. Strategic Partnerships of Center for Policing Equity

Recent Developments COVID-19-related fatalities are the single highest cause of law enforcement death occurring in the first six months of 2021, although that number is a decrease from last year’s COVID fatalities. Five police officers died in one week in the state of Florida. In spite of the high incidence of COVID in their membership, many police unions oppose mandatory vaccinations. (2021 Mid-year Preliminary Law Enforcement Officers Fatalities Report) A grand jury filed 32 indictments against three policemen and two paramedics involved in the death of Elijah McClain in Aurora, CO. McClain was stopped in August 2019 when someone reported a man wearing a ski mask. He was subjected to a carotid restraint and injected with the sedative ketamine. (Eric Levenson and Stella Chan, CNN.com, September 1, 2021) Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of the murder of George Floyd, is appealing his conviction based on 14 issues. National Reforms The U.S. Justice Department announced a change of policy on the use of no-knock entries, chokeholds, and carotid restraints by federal law enforcement officers, limiting the circumstances in which these techniques can be used. If an agency feels that a no-knock entry is necessary to serve a warrant, a federal prosecutor and the agent’s law enforcement component must both sign off on it. Chokeholds and carotid restraints may not be used unless deadly force is authorized. (U.S. Department of Justice Press Release, September 14th, 2021) Justice Department will review enforcement of civil rights protections in grants to law enforcement agencies. The Department announced a 90-day review to decide if it was doing enough to ensure that law enforcement agencies receiving federal funds were not engaged in discrimination. There have also been investigations of allegations of systemic racism in police departments of Minneapolis, Louisville, Phoenix, and the Georgia state prison system. (Katie Benner, “Justice Dept. to Review Enforcement of Civil Rights Protections in Grants”, New York Times, September 16th, 2021) State Reforms New York: Governor Hochul signs bill ending jail time for minor parole violations; many hope it will end deplorable conditions at Rikers Island prison. With The Less is More Act parole violators will have to show a pattern of violations before the are put in jail. (Nicholas Reimann, forbes.com, September 17, 2021) Washington: In what may be the nation’s most ambitious police reform legislation, WA passed measures that ban chokeholds, neck restraints, and no-knock warrants. The measures restrict when officers can engage in car chases, require police to exhaust de-escalation tactics, and make it easier for individual officers to be sued. In addition, officers must intervene when a colleague uses excessive force and must report misconduct. Also, the law makes it easier to decertify officers, and a new state agency to investigate use of deadly force has been created. Some police agencies across the state have complained that the language of the bills was vague and that the individual measures are unreasonable. (Gene Johnson, apnews.com, July 26, 2021) City Reforms Minneapolis: A charter amendment was added to an upcoming ballot that would remove the city charter's requirement of having a police department with a minimum staffing level and replace it with a new Department of Public Safety with an emphasis on trained professionals in crisis intervention and which supporters insist “could have” police “if necessary”. The funding and the functions of this new department would later be defined by the mayor and City Council. It has run into legal challenges due to “vague, ambiguous” language and claims that it could not be implemented. The judge in the case rejected new language in the amendment just days before early and absentee voting would begin. The Minnesota Supreme Court then ruled that the charter amendment could appear on the upcoming ballot. (Steve Karnowski, Judge rejects ballot question on fate of Minneapolis police, apnews.com, September 14, 2021) Ithaca, NY: The city and county are in the process of redesigning their police force through a Public Safety Collaborative with the goals of implementing an unarmed response team unit in the City of Ithaca and to develop a community healing plan to address trauma in the relationship between law enforcement and residents for the city and county. Members of the public are invited to provide input while the city and county are working with the Center for Policing Equity. (City of Ithaca, Reimagining Public Safety. www.publicsafetyreimagined.org, www.policingequity.org) Spokane: Staffing shortages in the force have led to a temporary elimination of the traffic unit of the Spokane Police Department. There are 10 officer vacancies in the SPD as of the beginning of September. There are also officers in training, on vacation, or on medical leave. Some officers have opted to take early retirement. Other departments across the state have been experiencing staff shortages since 2019. There is a lack of applicants due to several factors, including “anti-police rhetoric,” difficulty in finding affordable housing, and officers choosing employment in other states where reform laws like Washington’s have not been passed. (Emma Epperly, “Understaffed Spokane PD temporarily eliminates Traffic Unit”, The Spokesman-Review, September 9, 2021).

What You Can Do Join SCAR (Spokane Committee Against Racism). SCAR was founded in response to the May 2017 acquittal by an all white jury of a white man killing a black man while claiming self-defense. SCAR hosts a variety of programs focusing on education, observing government and police ombudsman meetings, making and passing out breakfast burritos to hungry people on Sunday mornings, and working with other community organizations to enable reform. (scarspokane.org) Stay informed and get involved with city government, especially on issues involving law enforcement and equity. If you see injustice to a citizen, you have a constitutional right to record it, even though a law enforcement officer may tell you otherwise. Image credit "Social Justice Solidarity: Dialogue" by Grant Neufeld is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Prayer for Social Justice God, All people have their origins in you, and it is your will to gather them as one family in yourself. Fill the hearts of all people with your love and the desire to ensure justice for all their brothers and sisters. By sharing the good things of the earth, may we secure justice and equality for every human being, an end to all division, and a human society built on love and peace. We make this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen “A Prayer for Human Rights” (pdf)