At Tuesday\u2019s vigil about the killing of Amir Locke, many of you asked what concrete things the
\nschool would do in response to yet another police killing of a Black man in our community. We are starting one specific project this week that we think could make a positive difference.<\/p>\n
Over the last few days, we have been in touch with legislators, policymakers, and leaders of our
\nlocal police and others who are all interested in police reform, particularly reform directed at
\nmaking policing better for the community and those who serve in law enforcement. The folks we have
\nspoken with who support this type of reform urgently need legal research, statutory drafting,
\nsocial science analysis, talking points and op-eds, model community-police agreements, and other
\nspecific work product that we can generate right here at Mitchell Hamline. We are inviting members
\nof our community, including students, staff, faculty members, and alumni to get engaged in this
\nwork.<\/p>\n
This Police Reform Initiative<\/strong> will include focus on the following preliminary list:<\/p>\n 1. Banning no-knock warrants<\/strong> \u2013 Analyzing the history, the law, and the social science; reviewing 2. Amplifying and sharing effective police reform efforts<\/strong> \u2013 Identifying successful reforms in 3. Drafting model agreements between community and police<\/strong> \u2013 Identifying effective consent decree terms and other provisions in agreements between the police and community groups (e.g., the 4. Exploring regulatory reform<\/strong> \u2013 Analyzing the legal authority of the Minnesota POST Board (and 5. Exploring ways to support officers by improving officer training and education<\/strong> \u2013 As our 6. Exploring ways to improve officer wellness and safety<\/strong> \u2013 The wellness and safety of law situations that have a potentially negative impact on the metal and physical well-being. An 7. Exploring ways to develop greater trust, transparency, and legitimacy<\/strong> \u2013 Building trust and This is only a preliminary list, and we invite interested MHSL community members to submit their If you have interest in joining us in this work, please email<\/p>\n Rick Petry, Director Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
\nthe legislative history and laws in states that have banned such warrants (Oregon and Florida);
\nworking at the state and local level on legislation.<\/p>\n
\nspecific departments from across the country; drafting model policies; researching the law and
\nsocial science on safer and more equitable approaches to policing.<\/p>\n
\nagreement between the St. Paul NAACP and the St. Paul Police, including the emerging agreement on
\nan addendum to that original agreement) to work toward similar agreements in other communities.<\/p>\n
\nother state licensing entities) and other potential administrative and regulatory options for
\nreforming police practices.<\/p>\n
\nnation becomes more pluralistic and the scope of law enforcement\u2019s responsibilities expands, the
\nneed for expanded and more effective training has become critical. Today\u2019s line officers and
\nleaders must be trained and capable to address a wide variety of challenges including international
\nand domestic terrorism, evolving technologies, changing laws, new cultural mores, and a growing
\nmental health crisis.<\/p>\n
\nenforcement officers is critical not only for the officers, their colleagues, and their agencies,
\nbut also to public safety. Every day we ask officers to protect us from harm and in doing so we ask
\nthem to step into dangerous, toxic, and traumatic situations. With that, they are exposed to<\/p>\n
\nunhealthy officer is not an effective officer.<\/p>\n
\nnurturing legitimacy on both sides of the police\/citizen divide is the foundational principle
\nunderlying the nature of relations between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
\nDecades of research and practice support the premise that people are more likely to obey the law
\nwhen they believe that those who are enforcing it have authority that is perceived as legitimate by
\nthose subject to the authority.<\/p>\n
\nideas for possible inclusion on the list. More action items can and will be added.<\/p>\n
\nEmail: rick.petry@mitchellhamline.edu<\/a><\/p>\n