Innovations in training and reform
It began with …
After an altercation with police at a pizza place, and a subsequent arrest, a Black man, Jomardrick, is suing a police department, alleging that he was wrongfully arrested.
Charges against Jomardrick were dismissed months after the incident, but the officer was also exonerated, found to have acted within acceptable police perimeters.
Jomardrick says he wants justice, and discusses how he feels about police after his encounter.
Making some changes …
A Florida county sheriff, Mike Chitwood, is making some major changes to his department, starting with implementing new training on the basics, such as how deputies are responding to calls, their de-escalation tactics, training on implicit bias, and deputies have also received body cameras.
“Everything that goes wrong in society gets shoved down to the cops,” Chitwood said. “People (say), ‘Why are cops dealing with that?’ Because the system is broken, and we’re the last line of defense against something. We’re trying to turn that system on its head.”
The result so far (since Chitwood was sworn in, in 2017): Injuries to deputies and suspects have dropped by 50%, crime has dropped from triple to double digits, use of force incidents have dropped, and more.
Spreading knowledge …
With police shootings dominating headlines, police departments around the country are trying to address the problem with better resources, starting with de-escalation training.
Making a change in the community …
An activist who has mobilized multiple efforts in her community, providing people with something actionable to do, discusses how she believes police are going wrong, as well as how she thinks the nation could move forward without police departments.
Departments and communities come together …
A growing number of 911 calls are for people who are suffering from a mental health crisis. Many of those encounters end up escalating to violence.
A local police department has created the mental health intervention group — a unique partnership with people all around the community — in order to be sure residents’ mental health needs are being met.
Handling law enforcement encounters …
A lawyer with the Detroit Justice Center gives some invaluable advice, regarding what you should and shouldn’t do during any kind of traffic stop or police encounter.
The search continues for solutions …
The way police officers interact with civilians is something many are paying attention to. We want to understand the process and get to a point where these encounters all go as smoothly as possible, especially when things get heated.
Are there any real solutions to help bridge the gap? Can anything be done? We’re taking a look.
Uniform vs. civilian life …
A Black police chief discusses the stark difference between how he’s treated in police clothes versus civilian clothing.
Where do you stand? …
“Implicit bias” is a phrase you may have heard recently, but what does it mean? Are you making judgments about someone because of their gender, race or sexuality without realizing it?