Recent events have shone a spotlight on law enforcement agencies, officers, and the tactics and equipment that we employ to protect our communities. As a result of these events, many observers and commentators, as well as ordinary citizens, have raised important questions about the state of police-community relations.
It is clear that over the past two decades, many communities throughout the United States have witnessed a decline in the rate of crime. Years of effective, proactive, and progressive policing efforts by U.S. federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies have transformed neighborhoods into safer, more secure communities.
However, as police leaders, we recognize that no single factor has been more crucial to reducing crime levels than the partnership between law enforcement agencies and the communities we serve. We know that in order to be truly effective, police agencies cannot operate alone; we must have the active support and assistance of citizens and communities.
We also realize that this successful partnership is crucial. High-profile incidents and allegations of police misconduct can drive a wedge between law enforcement officers and the citizens we have sworn to protect. Establishing and maintaining a safe community requires an ongoing concerted effort to work together.
It is for these reasons, and in light of recent events, that the IACP will shortly be convening a summit to examine the current state of police-community relations, the evolving landscape of threats that confront law enforcement, and the need for policies and procedures that ensure fair and equitable policing practices.
The summit will bring together a wide range of law enforcement officials, community leaders, academic researchers, and policy experts from around the United States and the world to discuss the myriad issues and concerns that shape and impact the relationship between police departments and the communities we serve.
The 1033 Program
Another key concern expressed by many observers has been the use of equipment made available to law enforcement agencies through the Department of Defense (DOD) Excess Property Program (1033 program). In fact, President Obama has ordered a review of this program and an examination of its value to the law enforcement community.
As we know, the 1033 program has assisted law enforcement agencies across the United States in obtaining officer protection and tactical equipment that they would not otherwise be able to secure. This equipment has undoubtedly improved the safety of U.S. law enforcement officers and enhanced their abilities to protect citizens and communities from harm.
In my own experience as chief in Woodway, Texas, I have seen firsthand the life-saving benefit of the 1033 program; we used equipment acquired from the 1033 program to aid a seriously wounded officer and rescue citizens under fire from high-powered rifles.
Law enforcement executives understand that recent events have given rise to questions about this program and its value to law enforcement agencies and the communities we serve. For these reasons, the IACP is committed to working with the White House, the U.S. Department of Justice, and all agencies involved in this important, and timely, review of the 1033 program.
I am confident that this review will clearly demonstrate that the vast majority of this equipment has been properly transferred to and deployed by law enforcement agencies. I am also certain that this review will demonstrate the vital role that this equipment has played in protecting our communities and officers.
The Need for a New Commission
However, despite the importance of the IACP summit and the U.S. federal administration’s review of the 1033 program, it is clear that a broader, more strategic and comprehensive review and discussion about the future of the U.S. criminal justice system is absolutely vital.
For over 20 years, the IACP has called for the establishment of a national commission on law enforcement and the administration of justice that would be empowered to give close examination to many of the issues that were at the center of recent events. We need a commission that will conduct an examination of every aspect of the U.S. criminal justice systems, including, but not limited to, crime prevention, law enforcement, the judiciary, corrections, and offender reentry.
Despite our success in reducing crime rates, U.S. state, tribal, and local law enforcement executives have grown increasingly concerned with the lack of a central, comprehensive plan to guide U.S. criminal justice efforts. Agencies are struggling to balance their post-9/11 homeland protection responsibilities with the law enforcement community’s traditional crime-fighting efforts. The already tight budgets of state, county, municipal, and tribal agencies have been forced to absorb the costs associated with increased training needs, overtime, and equipment purchases.
Coupled with these pressures is the continuing need to ensure the protection of civil rights and civil liberties, which is central to a strong community-police relationship, and therefore, vital to our crime-fighting and homeland security efforts.
For far too long, law enforcement agencies have viewed these issues, and the challenges they bring, in isolation. As a result, we have developed solutions that address immediate concerns, but fail to provide the comprehensive systemic reform that is necessary in order to be truly successful in meeting the needs of both law enforcement agencies and the communities we serve.
We can no longer afford to wait; the time has come. The creation of a commission is no longer something we could do; it is something we must do. Today, we the leaders in the criminal justice system have a responsibility to make this issue one of our highest priorities. I believe we can significantly improve our ability to effectively fight crime, reduce police officers’ deaths, and enhance police-community relationships with the creation of a comprehensive strategic plan. I call on each of you, the leaders in our profession, to add your voices to our cause by acting locally with the leaders in your communities and sharing with each of them the urgency of our cause and ask them to join with us in calling for establishment of a “National Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice.” ♦
Please cite as:
Yousry “Yost” Zakhary, “Strengthening Police-Community Relations,” President’s Message, The Police Chief 81 (September 2014): 6.
