LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles Police Protective League and three other law enforcement organizations have launched a website to advocate for investing in better policing rather than defunding departments, they announced today.
The website investinpolicing.com includes an open letter to local, state and federally elected officials calling for investment in better policing and expanding community policing, adding that calls to defund or abolish police departments are dangerous.
The letter includes a list of ways to create mutual respect between members of law enforcement and the communities they serve:
-- Rethinking which non-emergency calls don't require a police response;
-- Creating a national use-of-force standard that emphasizes a reverence for life, de-escalation, a duty to intercede, proportional responses to dangerous incidents and strong accountability provisions;
-- Increasing funding for de-escalation and crisis intervention training for police officers;
-- Dispatching specially trained officers and mental health experts to safely manage crisis calls;
-- Implementing a national database of former police officers fired for gross misconduct that prevents other agencies from hiring them;
-- Establishing an early warning system that identifies police officers that may need additional training and mentoring.
The website is a joint venture of the LAPPL, the San Francisco Police Officers Association, San Jose Police Officer's Association and the United Coalition of Public Safety.
The LAPPL was formed in 1923 and represents more than 9,000 sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department, reflecting the interests of officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education.
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