[Bizzy CKeymaster]

The righteous outcries of peaceful protestors calling for civil rights and systemic reforms following the death of George Floyd on May 25th have echoed resoundingly across our nation and the world.

Extreme times like this generate new ideas and movements, a small fraction of which demand drastic measures.

It is 50P’s official position to support humanitarian progress, innovation, and systemic reform in the spirit of equity, diversity, and inclusion for all.

It is also 50P’s position to dissect extreme ideas like “Defund the police,” which by name alone is enough to inflame divisions between groups of people… NOT a productive strategy.

So what can we do to ensure a greater police force and security for ALL of our nation’s citizens?

Here are some thoughts…

Enhance vetting and training processes for both new recruits and veterans

• Include equity, diversity and inclusion courses in police training
• Standardize restraint tactics, and enforce them
• Offer advanced training and compensation for officers working in neighborhoods with statistically higher crime rates
• Bonus departments based upon measurable milestones (i.e. lower crime rates)
• Require paid annual continuing education courses for all officers

 

Compliment policing with the help of well-trained service workers

• There are other services much better equipped to deal with certain traumas, particularly with cases where mental impairments come into play… Create collaborations between Police Departments and Human Services professionals

 

Rehabilitate military personnel

“Today just 6 percent of the population at large has served in the military, but 19 percent of police officers are veterans… It is the third most common occupation for vets behind truck driving and management.”¹

More than ever we have an understanding of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder resulting from military service, particularly for those who have served tours of duty on the battlefield.

Soldiers are trained killing machines, and the tactics they learn in training are there to serve such ends.

Rehabilitation through therapy, physical and vocational training should be required to help all of the devoted men and women of the armed forces reenter society at the end of their service.

This will help more than just the Police Departments.

 

Give police a break

• Allow officers an extra two week leave of absence for every two years of service

 

Actively involve police in community services work as part of their salaried duties, particularly in low income neighborhoods

• Give officers a stake in the neighborhoods they protect
• Give neighborhood citizens an opportunity to connect with the police

 

Identify inefficiencies, and be innovative with budgeting, in Police and Human Services alike, to maximize return on taxpayer investment

• Better training and community involvement will reduce liability in the very least
• High income neighborhoods should not receive enhanced dispensation of services like policing because they happen to generate a higher regional tax revenue

Audit military funding and re-route resources to build a greater Police and Human Services force

• Enough said

 

This should be more than enough to get the conversation started.

Please offer your thoughts and ideas in the comments below to keep this conversation going!

• This topic was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Bizzy C.
• This topic was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Bizzy C.
• This topic was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Bizzy C.

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