To: President Donald Trump, The New York State House, The New York State Senate, Governor Andrew Cuomo, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
REFORMING THE POLICE SYSTEM
WE DEMAND JUSTICE NOW
We need to work together to ensure that we are granting power over the lives of the general public to the correct people. We have certain expectations we place on our citizens, and those expectations need to be higher for those who represent forces of authority in our country and in our communities.
We need to reform the police system. It is the only way that we can successfully achieve progress in the relationship between cops and civilians. Although not all cops go out of their way to intentionally hurt civilians, there are some that do. If we carry on without addressing this truth: there will be no change and casualties will continue to occur.
We need to start viewing the police force in America as a police force, and not as a military force. There are casualties when we go to war. To have casualties in the streets is symbolic of the wars between civilians and cops taking place within our own country. This can be prevented, on both sides. We ask that civilians rationalize the consequences of their actions before they commit them. As we ask the same of our cops. In order to make certain that we are working toward preventing these pointless wars – we demand steps be taken to help ensure that we are placing guns in the hands of only those who are mentally stable enough for such an important role.
First, police officers need to be required to take a psychology course. They need to be taught how to better read behavior so that they can properly defuse situations. Also, they will be able to better recognize mental illness, so they know who they are dealing with and can react accordingly.
Second, police officers also need to attend a once-a-month session with a psychologist. A licensed professional should be making sure that all cops are mentally stable enough to carry out such an important responsibility.
Third, if a citizen is hurt in a police officer’s custody in any way, a federal investigation will be immediately launched. As a police officer in society, respecting citizens should be a part of your job just as civilians should be respecting the police force. Those in police custody are innocent until proven guilty and need to be treated like so. If someone is injured or killed while in police custody, an automatic suspension to the responsible officer(s) must occur until the investigation is complete. After the investigation is complete, if excessive force is determined: the officer(s) will be charged and sentenced accordingly. If a civilian dies in police custody, and an officer’s life was not in direct danger, the officer(s) must be charged. The charges can range anywhere from involuntary manslaughter to first-degree murder.
Fourth, all police officers must be fitted with body cameras if they are patrolling the streets. If your body camera "falls off," you never properly put it on. This will result in an automatic suspension without pay for whatever duration managing officers determine. Body cameras are not only used for the protection of civilians; but for the protection of police officers. Because it is such a helpful instrument for police to have, officers need to properly secure body cameras at the beginning of a shift. Cameras in the workplace are common in less demanding jobs, and so shouldn’t be a burden in such a high-risk environment.
Fifth, police officers need to be required to attend a crisis/hostage negotiation course. Defusing a situation and walking away with as few people injured as possible is important when your job is to protect and serve.
We, the people of this country, demand justice. We believe that justice can only occur when the police force faces reform. We can help create a mutual respect between cops and civilians. The first step toward this respect is having the cops agree to the terms of the civilians that they are bound to protect. We respect those with positive intentions. We acknowledge that they risk their lives on a daily basis for our safety. But we demand that those who do not return this respect, who beat and kill our civilians, be dealt with under the eye of an equal law as any other civilian. Let’s change America today.
We need to work together to ensure that we are granting power over the lives of the general public to the correct people. We have certain expectations we place on our citizens, and those expectations need to be higher for those who represent forces of authority in our country and in our communities.
We need to reform the police system. It is the only way that we can successfully achieve progress in the relationship between cops and civilians. Although not all cops go out of their way to intentionally hurt civilians, there are some that do. If we carry on without addressing this truth: there will be no change and casualties will continue to occur.
We need to start viewing the police force in America as a police force, and not as a military force. There are casualties when we go to war. To have casualties in the streets is symbolic of the wars between civilians and cops taking place within our own country. This can be prevented, on both sides. We ask that civilians rationalize the consequences of their actions before they commit them. As we ask the same of our cops. In order to make certain that we are working toward preventing these pointless wars – we demand steps be taken to help ensure that we are placing guns in the hands of only those who are mentally stable enough for such an important role.
First, police officers need to be required to take a psychology course. They need to be taught how to better read behavior so that they can properly defuse situations. Also, they will be able to better recognize mental illness, so they know who they are dealing with and can react accordingly.
Second, police officers also need to attend a once-a-month session with a psychologist. A licensed professional should be making sure that all cops are mentally stable enough to carry out such an important responsibility.
Third, if a citizen is hurt in a police officer’s custody in any way, a federal investigation will be immediately launched. As a police officer in society, respecting citizens should be a part of your job just as civilians should be respecting the police force. Those in police custody are innocent until proven guilty and need to be treated like so. If someone is injured or killed while in police custody, an automatic suspension to the responsible officer(s) must occur until the investigation is complete. After the investigation is complete, if excessive force is determined: the officer(s) will be charged and sentenced accordingly. If a civilian dies in police custody, and an officer’s life was not in direct danger, the officer(s) must be charged. The charges can range anywhere from involuntary manslaughter to first-degree murder.
Fourth, all police officers must be fitted with body cameras if they are patrolling the streets. If your body camera "falls off," you never properly put it on. This will result in an automatic suspension without pay for whatever duration managing officers determine. Body cameras are not only used for the protection of civilians; but for the protection of police officers. Because it is such a helpful instrument for police to have, officers need to properly secure body cameras at the beginning of a shift. Cameras in the workplace are common in less demanding jobs, and so shouldn’t be a burden in such a high-risk environment.
Fifth, police officers need to be required to attend a crisis/hostage negotiation course. Defusing a situation and walking away with as few people injured as possible is important when your job is to protect and serve.
We, the people of this country, demand justice. We believe that justice can only occur when the police force faces reform. We can help create a mutual respect between cops and civilians. The first step toward this respect is having the cops agree to the terms of the civilians that they are bound to protect. We respect those with positive intentions. We acknowledge that they risk their lives on a daily basis for our safety. But we demand that those who do not return this respect, who beat and kill our civilians, be dealt with under the eye of an equal law as any other civilian. Let’s change America today.
Why is this important?
We need justice and we can't wait. In order to prevent casualties we must reform the police system. Respect for both police officers and civilians is extremely important. Let's protect civilians and those in blue! Help us reform the the police system today!