The 1 Change to fix policing in America
State and National Government Leaders
This petition is to create awareness for the 1 change that we believe can fix policing in America.
The issue of accountability for police misconduct has once again been thrust into the spotlight this year with several instances of unarmed citizens having fatal encounters with law enforcement. Social change is hard, and in today’s climate polite discourse around policing is challenging as people feel they have to pick a side. We want to change the conversation on this issue. No more choosing sides. Let's choose a solution!
We propose one simple change to fix policing. The recommended change is specific, achievable, and fair to both citizens and law enforcement officials. If implemented correctly, this one change can achieve a just solution that creates trust through transparency around this recurring issue which has divided our country for far too long.
We recommend changes in how police misconduct is handled. Instead of handling them in house at the over 18,000 state and local agencies we have in the United States. This responsibility would be transferred to the state level. Who would take over the duties currently handled by local internal affairs.
Sponsored by
To:
State and National Government Leaders
From:
[Your Name]
We propose one simple change to fix policing. The recommended change is specific, achievable, and fair to both citizens and law enforcement officials. If implemented correctly, this one change can achieve a just solution to this recurring issue which has divided our country for far too long.
The 1 change is this: Instead of handling Police Misconduct Complaints in house at the over 18,000 state and local agencies we have in the United States, this responsibility would be transferred to the state level and handled by the Office of the Inspector General(OIG).(some states will have to create this office)
OIG’s responsibilities would include receiving complaints from citizens and other police officers, handling investigations of alleged police misconduct, and presenting their recommendations to a board that will determine when and if punitive action is necessary.
This one change would enable further improvements such as establishing uniform standards of conduct, training, recruitment and selection, and discipline for all police within the state. State governments could take a more active part in ensuring that municipal governments do not enter into collective agreements with unions that inhibit the state's ability to hold the small minority of police officers acting outside of their parameters accountable.