Dismantling.
Thursday, June 4th, 2020
Some notes toward systemic change:
- If you cover up or hide your identification, you are fired and subject to arrest.
- If you are asked by anyone, you must disclose your name, your agency, and who you report to.
- If you are required to wear a body cam, disabling that is a firing offense.
- If you stand by while a colleague is violating policy and do not step in to defuse the situation, you can be charged as severely as the police perpetrator.
- If the suspect or protestor you are interacting with asks you a question, you will answer, clearly and politely.
These would be national laws, if not a component of a constitutional amendment. They would not be subject to executive branch meddling from any future administration.
- Completely dismantle the program that gives police agencies hand-me-down military equipment. Confiscate and junk the equipment they have received.
- Eliminate “warrior” programs that train cops to do battle instead of defuse volatile situations.
- Establish completely transparent review processes with public access to video and other evidence.
- Reward successes and achivements in peaceful interactions with communities of color (and all communities). Have a good idea to make a tough situation better? You’re rewarded.
- Eliminate chokeholds.
- Eliminate no-knock warrants.
- Establish national standards for police salaries and benefits that would make police unions less necessary. If you’re a cop, it’s hard work, we expect a lot, but you have to deliver, or you’re through being a cop.
The next administration and legislature has a lot of work to do.
I got a marketing call today from a tough-sounding guy asking if I would support candidates who promote legislation that protect police “in these difficult times”.
As the kids say, that’s a hard no.
