police reform ideas anybody?

[jobendorfer]

27. some ideas

We give police officers an extraordinary level of authority. The converse of authority is responsibility and accountability. That happens best in a transparent environment.

#1. Any uniformed police officer on duty may be videotaped or recorded by anyone. Sorry, if you want privacy, find another line of work.

#2. In each county, there needs to be standing jury, NOT under the control of the D.A., that investigates allegations of police abuse or corruption. This jury should be supervised by a judge and must have the power to subpoena documents and witnesses, and deliver indictments. The county/city DA works hand-in-glove with the police and long experience has shown that they are reluctant to threaten that relationship.

#3. End qualified immunity. Any act by a police officer outside of the written department policy is not covered. The officer is personally and criminally liable.

#4. Much of the work that police departments do is better handled by social workers and conflict negotiators. Reduce the number of armed officers and put that money in the hands of social workers who are enormously better trained to do it.

#5. Throw away about half of the motor vehicle code, that is, the half that is in there that gives police cause to pull people over for what amount to minor equipment issues.

#6. Make it illegal for a police department to hire as a police officer anyone who has been fired from a job as a police officer.

#7. The vast majority of police should not carry sidearms. (Yes: most Americans will not like this idea; I will point out there is a first world nation that does not arm the vast majority of its officers.)

There are other good ideas out there. A good dictum is: a policeman's job is easy only in a police state.

J.