Police Misconduct and Abuse in the Performance of Duty

WHEREAS, most law enforcement manuals include language that requires officers to report other officers' acts of misconduct; and

WHEREAS, police departments often overlook abuse between fellow officers and perpetuate the "blue code of silence" by systematically destroying the careers of officers brave enough to report use of excessive force and other acts of misconduct; and

WHEREAS, police departments throughout the country are thought to have a flawed and non-transparent processes for investigation of police misconduct cases; and

WHEREAS, regardless of policies that often exist, many departments throughout the country shield police officers with extensive abuse of force records from public scrutiny, keeping them on the force and endangering the public; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP advocates for all units to help establish civilian police review boards to investigate all misconduct - including brutality, excessive force, use of firearms and tasers, rudeness to citizens and all other acts that are often protected by the "blue code of silence" -as reiterated in the below resolutions:

• 1966 - Excessive Force

• 1998 - Emergency Resolution on "Driving While Black" - Racial Profiling of African Americans

• 2000 - Improving Community Police Relations

• 2001 - Calling for Independent Civilian Review Boards

WHEREAS, the NAACP has always stood against any form of police misconduct and advocates for greater police accountability, as outlined in the below resolutions:

• 1978 - Prosecution of Police and Corrections Officers for Criminal Acts

• 1978 - Police Brutality

• 1979 - Police Brutality

• 1980 - Indiscriminate Use of Firearms by Police

• 1983 - PoliceBrutality

• 1983 - Use of Chokeholds by Police

• 1987 - PoliceBrutality

• 1991 - PoliceBrutality

• 1992 - Police Brutality

• 1996 - Excessive Force by Law enforcement Officers and Police Departments

• 2007 - Establish Model Standards, Policies and Training to Prevent Police Misconduct and Excessive Use of Force.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP will seek implementation of policy and legislation to establish a formal hearing process independent of local law enforcement personnel to investigate claims brought by officers against fellow officers, command staff, and internal affairs - to include collaboration with citizen police review boards and POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) boards when possible; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such investigative bodies have the authority to make disciplinary recommendations to the District Attorney or proper authorities; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP advocates for a reporting process of investigations and conclusions of such hearings to the public.