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To: City of Livonia Mayor, Livonia City Council, Livonia Police Department

Livonia Citizens Demand Police Transparency!

In light of the racial injustice across the nation, we desire to take reasonable and tangible proactive action at the municipal level to ensure that such a tragedy will never occur in our community.

On June 19th 2020, Livonia released a response to community inquiries about Use of Force policies within our police department. The document titled, Livonia Police DID NOT WAIT, outlined policies in relation to the 8cantwait campaign and dates in which Livonia had enacted these corresponding policies. While we are encouraged that policies exist today, the statement fell short in revealing how the policies are actually enforced and seemed to contradict information obtained through an FOIA inquiry on June 10th 2020.

In order to drive continued transparency and discussion with the Livonia community, we demand that the Livonia Police Department complete the following by July 13th 2020:
1. Post their use of force policies in full on their website (among others that may be deemed appropriate to the category): Policies - 300.2.1, 300.3, 300.3.3, 300.4, 300.4.1, 300.5, 304.4 and 409
2. Publish demographic and detailed data on the policies referenced above that have been enacted from 2015-May 2020
3. Publish demographic/race data for traffic stops from 2015-May 2020
4. Provide detail on the percentage of budget that comes from traffic fines

Why is this important?

Livonia has an unfortunate history as one of our country’s largest “Sundown Towns” - “all white” municipalities or neighborhoods that practiced a form of segregation by excluding non-whites through a combination of discriminatory local laws, intimidation, policing and violence. We urge the Livonia Police Department to set a higher standard of policing by strengthening accountability mechanisms and securing critical reforms to end police brutality, biased racial profiling, and policing targeting youth and communities of color. It’s time to not only address the racism and inequality that exists in our own community, but to address it with intention and ambition.

Be a part of the Livonia Citizens Caring About Black Lives movement by following us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1183500345325924

Read about the Campaign Zero initiative - https://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision

Updates

2020-06-25 21:02:26 -0400

500 signatures reached

2020-06-22 13:22:14 -0400

100 signatures reached

2020-06-22 09:41:48 -0400

50 signatures reached

2020-06-22 08:04:55 -0400

25 signatures reached

2020-06-21 22:04:20 -0400

10 signatures reached