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
Respecting the right to life, due process and property
We the undersigned demand a comprehensive federal policy change that will require all law enforcement personnel to respect, uphold, and enforce the laws of United States Constitution. Under Amendment V, the Constitution states, “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.” The current shoot-to-kill policy that is implemented by most law enforcement agencies throughout the US violates the People's constitutional right to life and due process of law. Enforcement of Constitutional Law therefore requires swift and comprehensive policy change to save lives and regain the People's trust. This shoot-to-kill policy should be replaced with a primary directive of employing tactical verbal deescalation techniques first. Secondarily, non-lethal tactics should be employed such as deploying netting. Lastly, after all non-lethal tactics have been exhausted, the use of shoot-to-wound with a firearm should be used with the intention of disarming and apprehending the person, not killing them. The safe arrest providing the opportunity for a court trial is a matter of compliance with US laws. We the undersigned demand that this policy change be put in place immediately by Presidential Executive Order in the interest of justice and be implemented by all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies without delay.
Why is this important?
I am a disabled corrections officer asking all officers to enforce the law by protecting and preserving the right to life, due process and property. I am witnessing police officers use of shoot to kill, violating citizens rights to life, denying access to due process and property and am called to take this action.These avoidable deaths seem levied disproportionately on Black America, and in my experiences within and outside of the structures of public safety, are unacceptable so I am obligated as an American and former officer subjected to permanent injury in the line of duty who supports only non lethal uses of force to be practiced uniformly in the compliance of the law. I demand all officers hold themselves and their partners to the highest standard of law enforcement as a matter of justice and moral conduct that be consistently followed as a matter of national professional policing protocol that will save lives of citizens, officers and rebuild the public trust.