HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-04-20 Public Comment - M. Cross - End Police BrutalityFrom:Web Admin
To:Agenda
Cc:Chris Mehl
Subject:FW: End Police Brutality
Date:Thursday, June 4, 2020 7:01:54 PM
From: Miriam Cross <miriam.m.cross@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2020 5:55 PM
To: Web Admin <webadmin@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: End Police Brutality
Dear Mayor Chris Mehl,
My name is Miriam and I am writing as a concerned citizen of Bozeman. I never want tosee the kind of police brutality in our town that we have seen happening across the country.
I know the Bozeman PD does NOT have a flawless record on these matters. As the Mayorof Bozeman there are specific powers that you have to place checks on the police and
ensure a safer community TODAY! Please implement the following IMMEDIATELY:
1) BAN the use of chokeholds and strangleholds. Allowing officers to choke or stranglecivilians, in many cases where less lethal force could be used instead, results in the
unnecessary death or serious injury of civilians.2) REQUIRE de-escalation. Require officers to de-escalate situations, where possible, by
communicating with subjects, maintaining distance, and otherwise eliminating the need touse force.
3) REQUIRE warning before shooting. Require officers to give a verbal warning, whenpossible, before shooting at a civilian
4)EXHAUST all other means before shooting. Require officers to exhaust all otherreasonable means before resorting to deadly force.
5) DUTY to intervene. Require officers to intervene and stop excessive force used by otherofficers and report these incidents immediately to a supervisor.
6) BAN shooting at moving vehicles. Restrict officers from shooting at moving vehicles,which is regarded as a particularly dangerous and ineffective tactic.
7) REQUIRE use of Force Continuum. Develop a Force Continuum that limits the types offorce and/or weapons that can be used to respond to specific types of resistance.
8) REQUIRE comprehensive reporting. Require officers to report each time they use forceor threaten to use force against civilians.
Again, you have the power to implement these measures immediately. It is your duty.Regards,
Miriam Cross