Community policing, citizen involvement keys to change

THE MAGIC PILL THAT WILL IMMEDIATELY BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN COMMUNITY & POLICE

Upon reading the scathing report the U.S. Justice Department published this week focused on sustained commitment, transformative reform, and change needed in Baltimore's police department, I reached out to community leaders in Cobb County, Ga. for answers.

Here are suggestions on what needs to be done at a local level submitted by Labor Of Love Campaign, organized by Rich Pellegrino as a non-profit group which does take donations but has no advertising budget.

IN ORDER TO REPURPOSE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS INTO PEACE DEPARTMENTS, AND INITIATE AN IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE IN THE WAR ON OUR COMMUNITIES:

 STOP all STOPS for minor traffic and pedestrian violations, including but not limited to: loitering, license plate light, brake light, turn signal, lane change, seatbelt, etc.—and most importantly---DWB (driving while Black or Brown).

 STOP all ARRESTS for minor traffic and pedestrian violations, including but not limited to: loitering, driver’s license expiration or suspension, insurance lapse, marijuana possession and possession of other controlled substances in small amounts, obstruction, and all other offenses which can be treated with “non-custodial arrest”, which means issuance of a citation. 

  STOP all CRIMINAL PROFILING and street level crime detection tactics---that is not “protecting and serving” but is harassment & privacy invasion… leave the crime solving up to the Detectives---and STOP saying “I stopped you because you fit the description” ----ESPECIALLY if you are a white officer saying that to a Black man. (This all adds up to “racial profiling” however you dress it up.)

NOTE: ALL OF THE ABOVE CAN BE INITIATED RIGHT NOW UNDER EXISTING LAW!!! And though it may be a difficult pill to swallow for some, everything listed has already been tried with great success in other cities!!!

Some more aspects of the “repurposing” of our police departments into peace departments:

·         DEsist from all of the above.

·         DEescalate all situations at all times.

·         DEfend the dignity of all; bring PEACE rather than wreaking havoc.

·         DEcry the unjust actions of fellow officers.

·         DEny the prison industrial system and municipal government’s it’s extortion dollars.

·         DEliver Peace & Well being as PEACE OFFICERS.

IF YOU ARE A CITIZEN OR A POLICE OFFICER AND WANT TO TAKE PART IN IMPLEMENTING THIS SOLUTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY, CONTACT US.