Demand City Council Follow Through to End Police Violence
Mayor Gallego and Phoenix City Councilmembers
The violence of the Phoenix Police Department has finally been exposed on a national level. Thousands of community members have shown up and spoken out to demand change and accountability. Through a massive show of community power, we were able to get two key wins in our fight for police accountability:
Exploring the creation of a Civilian Oversight Board
Create an ad-hoc committee to evaluate and oversee the implementation of 10 years of recommendations for change in the Phoenix Police Department
Mayor Gallego and City Councilmembers agreed to implementing these two measures, but we have to keep up the pressure if we want them to happen. The council goes on vacation July 3 for two months. Before they go, we need them to VOTE on a plan moving forward, not just LISTEN and hope we forget before they come back.
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El alcalde Gallego y los concejales municipales acordaron implementar estas dos medidas, pero tenemos que mantener la presión si queremos que sucedan. El consejo se va de vacaciones el 3 de julio por dos meses. Antes de que se vayan, los necesitamos para VOTAR sobre un plan que avanza, no solo ESCUCHAR y esperamos que lo olvidemos antes de que regresen.
To:
Mayor Gallego and Phoenix City Councilmembers
From:
[Your Name]
Mayor Gallego and Councilmembers,
On Wednesday, June 19, you committed to two important steps towards police accountability:
1) Exploring the creation of a Civilian Oversight Board
---Must have subpoena power
---Must have power to fire employee
---Must have power to recommend disciplinary actions
---Must have access to past disciplinary records of an employee
2) An ad-hoc committee to evaluate and oversee the implementation of 10 years of recommendations for change in the Phoenix Police Department
---Victims of police violence and their families must be a part of the committee
---Majority committee members need to come from districts with highest numbers of officer involved shootings
---There needs to be an independent facilitator
---Power to review and evaluate past and future implemented recommendations
---Frequent community input
Before you go on vacation, we need you to VOTE, and not just listen. You must have a clear timeline for when these processes will begin. Our communities cannot wait. Do not stand by and allow these urgent reforms and accountability measures fall to the wayside again. Too many people have died and too many families have been shattered by the violence of the Phoenix police.