Establishing Model Standards, Policies and Training to Prevent Police Misconduct and Excessive Use of Force

WHEREAS, the NAACP reiterates its commitment to hold law enforcement accountable for police abuse and excessive use of force; and

WHEREAS, of the 43.5 million people who had contact with police in 2005, 1.6% had force or threat of force used against them in their most recent contact, and of them, 83% characterized the force as excessive; and

WHEREAS, African-Americans and Latinos are disproportionately affected by police use of excessive force, in that African-Americans accounted for roughly 1 out of 10 contacts with the police in 2005, but 1 out of 4 contacts in which force was used; and

WHEREAS, in August 2009, Mark Anthony Barmore of Rockford, Illinois was shot in the back and killed by law enforcement while inside a church and in front of children in a daycare; and

WHEREAS, in January 2010, Jordan Miles of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, an honor roll student was beaten by undercover law enforcement that failed to disclose their identity; and

WHEREAS, in January 2009, Oscar Grant of Oakland, California, was shot in the back after being handcuffed by local transportation law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP all alert system has received over 2,000 complaints of police abuse and use of force by law enforcement from July 2009 to May 2010; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP continue its commitment to ensuring fair and safe law enforcement practices in all communities, including communities of color.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP urge governmental agencies to review current policing standards and/or develop/updated model training and establish model policing standards to prevent police misconduct and use of force at the local, state, and national level.