“Policing & Communities,” CURE Policy provides police reform recommendations to Congress

Washington, D.C. – In light of the debate over police reform in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, the Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE) today released a report on a path forward on the bipartisan objectives of protecting people and helping communities feel secure. CURE’s new report, “Police and Communities: Bridging the Divide,” provides public officials and community leaders a roadmap for fixing problems in police departments as the nation remains divided over issues related to race and policing.

The CURE report authored by Founder and President Star Parker and Director of Government Relations Marty Dannenfelser has been delivered to Members of Congress who have been negotiating police reform legislation for more than a year.  The report makes four key policy recommendations for lawmakers, and calls for more honest dialogue — especially when passions are inflamed following tragic deaths involving police officers. The key policy recommendations are:

• Eliminate collective bargaining with police unions over disciplinary issues. This recommendation has been advanced by The Wall Street Journal editorial board, the Democratic Mayor of Minneapolis (Jacob Frey), and the former Assistant General Counsel of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
• Reform qualified immunity.  Colorado’s shared liability law makes the police officer personally responsible for a small portion of the judgment if the department determines the officer “did not act upon a good faith and reasonable belief” that their conduct was lawful. Congress and other states should consider a similar proposal.
• Encourage better data collection, transparency, and training. Upgrade use of force and arrest training, improve frontline supervision and internal investigations, and establish a national database for law enforcement agencies to have access to information about prior police misconduct.
• Support local initiatives to improve cooperation between police and communities. Equip police officers to improve relations with key people in their communities (e.g., young people, religious leaders). Ride-alongs and regular meetings in schools, churches and other settings can help foster an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual trust.

“There is a serious need for honest discussions on the part of political leaders, celebrities, and the media on the distrust of police in some black communities,” says Ms. Parker.  “When people rush to judgment based on limited information or false narratives, passions can become inflamed and destructive actions can ensue. Disputes need to be resolved through our legal system, not through street justice or vigilantism.”

Click here for the PDF version.