Reform, Not Defund

BY ALLEN WARREN

African American communities believe policing is prone to abuse. They distrust police. All too often, African Americans put all police in one box labeled, “The police are generally bad for Black people.” However, not all offi cers are bad. Good offi cers get painted with the same brush as bad offi cers.

POLICING MUST CHANGE—HERE’S HOW

The opinions African Americans hold about police are generally based on fi rsthand and perceived experiences. These opinions continue because members of the African American community often know little about the individuals who police them, about the police department or about law enforcement procedures.

In many cases, African Americans cannot distinguish one offi cer from another. A recent survey of 100 African Americans in Sacramento revealed that only four people knew the names of fi ve or more offi cers.

The current system of policing has many problems. But two issues stand in the way of fair policing. One problem is offi cers who take a good, honest and balanced approach to policing are not given credit for their excellent behavior. The second problem is offi cers who have complaints fi led against them are allowed to continuing working with little or no consequence. Sometimes, they get promoted.

One way to create a more harmonious relationship between police and the community is through increased transparency and accountability. Transparency and accountability allow the community to evaluate offi cers and provide information about police performance. This approach provides methods to give positive or negative feedback about offi cers. The feedback could be useful in determining who should stay on the force, who should be promoted and who should leave.

Transparency and accountability can be quickly established. Practices are common in the private sector— as common as a sign with a phone number that says, “How’s my driving?”

The time is right for us to refl ect on how law enforcement should evolve. Many state and national proposals are in progress, including elimination of qualifi ed immunity for offi cers. Other proposals, such as “Defund the Police,” seek to reallocate funding from local police to other civic departments.

The Sacramento Police Department should remain intact. However, city funds should be allocated to agencies that help address mental health, domestic violence, human assistance and homelessness. While recognizing the need to adequately fund police, the city must ensure the police budget is appropriate to sustain its operations.

The goal is to create a more harmonious relationship between law enforcement and the community through transparency and accountability. To achieve this goal, I proposed three city ordinance amendments:

STANDARD BUSINESS CARDS

Transparency and accountability can be quickly established when residents know who is policing them. To this goal, the city should require every police offi cer to provide a

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business card to individuals who are stopped for any reason. The business card would contain the offi cer’s name, badge number and an 800 phone number with a statement that says, “How’s my policing?” Additionally, the statement and phone number should be posted on police vehicles. Caller information should be automatically recorded and stored with the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission and Sacramento Police.

OFFICER WEBSITE IDENTIFICATION

This amendment would mandate the creation of a website to identify police offi cers by Sacramento Police Service Areas or City Council districts. The website should include a biography and photo for each offi cer. These small bios will make it easier for residents to know, understand and connect with police.

MANDATORY SUSPENSION FOR SHOOTING UNARMED AND NON-THREATENING PERSONS

This amendment would provide for mandatory unpaid suspension for offi cers who shoot unarmed and nonthreating persons. The intent of the suspension is to discourage the use of force, to end the unnecessary killing of unarmed individuals and prevent offi cers from shooting individuals in the back.

If transparency, accountability and good community relations are genuinely desired, these are positive and effi cient steps in that direction.

Allen Warren is city councilmember for District 2. He can be reached at awarren@cityofsacramento.org. n

The cover art on July’s Inside Pocket edition was incorrectly attributed to Jose Di Gregario. The work was created by Kerry Cottle, an award-winning artist who lives and works in Sacramento. She earned a MA at California State University, Sacramento in 2013. Cottle has been in numerous solo and group exhibitions in recent years. Shown: “Ometer,” oil on canvas, 6 foot by 6 foot, 2015. Visit kerrycottle.com.