FERGUSON COMMISSION MEETING December 15, 2014 Public Discussion - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

FERGUSON COMMISSION MEETING December 15, 2014

Public Discussion Summary from December 8 Meeting

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PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS

§ Public Open Mic Session § 3 Small Group Discussions: § Use of Force § Racial Profiling § Community Policing

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PUBLIC OPEN MIC COMMENTS

Educational Disparity

• Schools in St. Louis are

segregated

• Black community needs

more control over schools

VonDerrit Myers

• A special prosecutor is

needed

• Existing system is not

impartial

Law Enforcement

• Police need more and

better training

• Police need to really be

held accountable

Miscellaneous

• Court reform is needed
• Crisis exposes systemic

injustice and racism

• Public needs more time

to speak

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SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS

• Use of Force:
• Describe excessive use of force by law

enforcement

• Recommended actions to address issue

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• Racial Profiling:
• Describe impacts of racial profiling on

community

• Recommended actions to address issue

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• Community Policing
• Identify community policing concerns
• Recommended actions to improve community

policing

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USE OF FORCE ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

§ Biased & Preconceived

§ Minority, mentally ill & LGBT treated harshly § Protestors tear gassed…

§ Fear-Based:

§ Residents fear police § Police fear community

§ Ego-Based

§ Cowboy mentality

§ Punishing

§ Victims are punished for past arrests

§ Excessive

§ Heavy-handed reactions

§ Disrespectful

§ Belittling behavior, especially towards youth

Excessive Use of Force Is:

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RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS

§ Police Practices

§ Withhold salaries of officers involved in shootings until end of review § Use special investigator for all police related shootings

§ Community Practices

§ Treat officers the way you want to be treated § Build better relationships with police through community & youth programs

§ Legal Aid & Defense

§ Increase number of public defenders to provide quality defense

§

• Dept. of Defense

§ Have depts. that receive military equipment train officers on de- escalation tactics & cultural competency

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RACIAL PROFILING ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

Widespread Practice Economic Impacts Community Issue Promotes Racism

• Traffic & pedestrian stops
• Blacks stopped, searched

and arrested more, but have less contraband

• People don’t have money to

pay fines / fees

• Failure to pay leads to

vicious cycle

• Many reports to police

come from biased public

• Media feeds biased

perceptions

• Profiling reinforces for

public that blacks are more criminal and dangerous

ISSUES & CONCERNS

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RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS

Improve Police Practices

• More police

meetings with community

• Seek consent for

searches

Limit Economic Hardships

• Stop fining

people for minor

• ffenses
• Warrant

amnesty

Increase Police Screening & Training

• Anti-racist

screening for police candidates

• Cultural

awareness, sensitivity and communication training for police

Enforce MO’s Profiling Law

• Hold

departments accountable for enforcing the law

• Have profiling

violations affect pay and promotions

Address Community Bias

• Take

responsibility for personal bias

• Hold news

media accountable for biased reporting

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COMMUNITY POLICING ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

Disrespectful & Aggressive Policing:

• Harrasment
• Stereotyping of

community members Police Training

• Trainers

have bias too Internal Police Practices:

• Racism in

departments and officer associations

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RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS

§ Strengthen Citizen / Police Connections

§ Establish civilian review boards § Introduce police volunteer coordinators

§ Improve Youth / Police Interactions

§ Police partner with youth-focused

• rganizations

§ Enhance Officer Training & Prep

§ Anti-racism screening & training

§ Reform Police Practices

§ Police wear video cameras

§ Increase Community Policing Funding

§ Spend more money improving relationships, not equipment

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