Working to reform police practices to improve respect for basic human and civil rights. Reforms must address issues in policing including racial discrimination/profiling, diversity, excessive/deadly force and corruption.
THE POLICE KILLINGS of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and other black people have brought renewed, international attention to racism in law enforcement. Thankfully, Massachusetts elected leaders have taken note, and have already proposed some crucial reforms that could make it possible … Continued
Despite apparent broad consensus among key stakeholders on proposals that have been public for in some cases decades, there is a lack of substantive movement on most fronts in terms of police reform here in Massachusetts. With the current resurgence … Continued
Black and Blue Community Conversation on Police / Community Relations and Police Accountability: Thursday 6/11/20 at 6:00PM EST. http://cutt.ly/blknblu Topic: Black & Blue III – PPP (Plans, Policies & Proposals)Time: Jun 11, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) … Continued
[Source] By Jason Turesky Massachusetts is one of only six states that does not require special licenses for police officers, according to the ACLU. State Rep. Russell Holmes, D — Boston, is trying to change that. Since 2016, Holmes and Rep. David Vieira, … Continued
Justice in Policing Act of 2020 (PDF) Grant power to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to issue subpoenas to police departments as part of “pattern or practice” investigations into whether there has been a “pattern and practice” of bias … Continued
Released 6/4/20 by the Massachusetts Elected Officials of Color Caucus Ten-Point Plan to Address Police Violence and Advance Racial Justice (PDF) Federal Pass Congresswoman Pressley’s Resolution to condemn police brutality, racial profiling and the excessive use of force. Improve oversight … Continued
[Source] Our oppression has reached its boiling point. The uprisings we’re witnessing in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Minneapolis, New York, Oakland, Washington D.C. and many other cities across the U.S. are a direct consequence of the racism, bigotry, violence, and subjugation against Black people that has festered … Continued
[Source] Amir H. Ali, Emily Clark That doctrine has become one of the chief ways in which law enforcement avoids accountability for misconduct and, as Brooks’s case demonstrates, even proven constitutional violations. Ordinary people—whether they’re doctors, lawyers, or construction workers—are expected to follow … Continued
Update: Read the ACLU’s statement on the legislature’s compromise bill on distracted driving, which was signed into law by Governor Baker in November 2019. Massachusetts has a documented history of wide-ranging racial disparities in how police conduct traffic stops. A 2004 statewide report showed … Continued
CO-OP Cumulative Takeaways IA Recommendations All conclusions contained in an investigative report should be substantiated by facts obtained during the investigation. There should be a more serious and concerted attempt to follow-up with witnesses or complaining parties when there is … Continued