John,
We can’t keep doing this. Tyre Nichols should be alive today. Our justice system is fractured in truly terrible ways, and this can stem from cultures that train officers to see every situation as a threat, to begin every encounter from a place of dominance. If we don’t right these wrongs now, when this tragic reality is staring us in the face, when -- if ever -- will we do it? Our communities should be able to rely on us. They should be able to trust us with their lives. But how can we expect people to remain calm during a stop, when they may be in fear for their lives, and not hold police to that same standard? We need to make bold changes to the way we police. Right now. One life lost this way is too many, full stop, and looking at the list of names now is staggering. We need to train our police better. We need to ensure that they face appropriate consequences when necessary. We need every person who applies for this job to understand the profound responsibility that policing should be, and we need them to understand that their approach should be one of public service to their community, not one of punishment, aggression, or overreaction. The Law Enforcement Action Partnership extends our deepest sympathies to Tyre Nichols’s family and community. We stand with you. But we know words will never be enough. We know we need to fight for real change, we need to build an equitable and just system. We need to hold police accountable, including continuing to advocate for change to our policies on qualified immunity; prioritize transparency; enact more stringent policies around use of force and duty to intervene; and end problematic practices like pretextual stops, which LEAP worked to do in Oregon and Virginia in 2022 and will continue to push forward around the country. We need to change the way we hire, train, and supervise our officers, and reduce the footprint of policing on our communities. We need to make these changes now. If we don’t act, this will happen again, sooner than later. We know that. We’ve seen it. Enough. |
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