We want to improve the quality of life for all Norfolk citizens and avoid the social unrest and destruction of property that has occurred in other cities due to incidents involving the actions of police. The conditions for such unrest exist in Norfolk because for years the NPD has operated with a lack of civilian review, independent oversight, accountability, and transparency. This has led to high levels of distrust of the police in certain neighborhoods, and hinders effective crime prevention and apprehension of law breakers. A number of recent deadly force incidents have occurred under questionable circumstances. In these cases, and others where citizens have complained of misconduct, there has been a lack of transparency and accountability by the OPS and other officials regarding the conduct of officers involved. We request the following mechanisms to ensure greater community engagement with NPD: • Create a Civilian Governance Board that represents the citizens and provides input on policies, training, oversight, and ensures bias-free policing • Place a civilian with no connection to NPD as the head of OPS to ensure all complaints are effectively and expeditiously investigated with results publicly reported in all cases • Reform practices and policies regarding search and seizure, use of force, crisis intervention, personnel recruitment, training and ongoing supervision • Install and routinely use body and dash cams in all stops and public interaction with officers • Hire additional police officers and provide race and gender statistics of applicants and new hires. Reference: U.S. Department of Justice consent decree to Cleveland, OH. For more detail on reforms advocated herein see: http://cleconsentdecree.com/ and http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/cleveland-police-reform.

Telephone companies like Global Tel Link and Securus are pocketing millions of dollars from the families of prisoners. Through sky-high phone rates and unreasonable fees, these companies prey on the need from families to stay in touch with their incarcerated loved ones. This needs to end — sign our petition.

Some inmates are rehabilitated and should be returned to their community. The aging population of prisoners could be decreased by allowing good time served to be counted toward their sentences.

To ensure that all deputies in Chautauqua County be equipped with body cams and vehicles have dash cams

"Luis is a loving, kind and intelligent man. He has been through a lot and has made his share of mistakes. However, he really is trying to be rehabilitated so he may come home to his family. He and I are planning to marry and start a family once he is paroled and able. He is tired of the prison life, the criminal lifestyle and negative energy from prison administration, guards and other prisoners. He made a mistake but should not have to pay for it with his life. Many of us have made mistakes in life or done things we are ashamed of, the only difference between us and people who are incarcerated is they got caught. Please support this petition so Luis may get the help he needs to be a productive member of society and he can come home to his family."

Ron is someone we love and miss very much. He has a lot to offer, and would like to offer it while he is still able to. He has a promising future, and we would like to see him live it and make future memories with us while he still can. He has been locked away from us all for 40 years! Please sign this petition and help us get this much loved and needed man home to us. Thank you and God Bless!

Our son is a very good person who while on drugs committed this crime, and has paid for it. We stand by him and give him the moral support he needs to stay strong and the wherewithal to do better and prove he is a changed man.

I want justice to be served and all parties involved to be investigated so that this doesn't happen again.

We have all seen the upsetting results of distrust and suspicion--not only in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, but around the country--brought about by decisions not to indict police officers. More transparency and accountability is needed in this process. Giving the power to the County Prosecutor, rather than the grand jury, is what is needed.

The influence of racism in the outcome of many cases involving the use of lethal force on the part of police officers is undeniable - the failure of a Missouri grand jury to indict officer Darren Wilson of shooting Michael Brown is stark evidence of this. Racism is a disease that is tearing this country apart, and by rubbing out it's influence in cases, like in Ferguson, Missouri, that determine the fate of a murderer, we can begin to erode it's very consequential grasp on American politics.

I want justice for those who are killed by police officers under any circumstances.

I am proud to call this man my daddy! It is outrageous that with all his accomplishments and no conduct related issues while incarcerated that they continue to keep him from me and my family. Both of the men that my dad were tried with have been paroled out of the State of Wisconsin. Why is my dad still there? He hasn’t caught any other cases and has been a model prisoner. He has taken classes to better himself and has held continuous jobs so that he can continue to grow his skills. He is currently learning to work on engines; small 2 stroke engines as well as big diesel engines. Everything he does in there, he does to better himself so that he has a future when he comes home. You have had him for 30 years. Please let me have him for the next 30. I, my son, my family and my dad have suffered long enough. It’s time for him to come home and start his life over and be the father and grandfather that he hasn’t had the chance to be. I was 9 years old when my dad was taken from me. I will be 40 in August. My son (my dad's only grandchild) is now 21. He has seen his grandpa once in his whole life. The one thing that my Grandparents want to see in their last years is for their son to come home. Please give my dad the opportunity to spend those last few years with his parents.