WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.670 --> 00:00:10.720 Brenda Bond-Fortier: Welcome. Welcome, everyone it is great to be here on this lovely Tuesday spring 2 00:00:10.810 --> 00:00:21.139 Brenda Bond-Fortier: afternoon, and maybe it's morning for some of you. We are just so thrilled to be together today and to continue our new 3 00:00:21.190 --> 00:00:22.430 Brenda Bond-Fortier: spring 4 00:00:22.450 --> 00:00:52.180 Brenda Bond-Fortier: Webinar series. And and we've got a great conversation scheduled for today. So let me start us off by just first welcoming the panel and welcoming all of you to this seminar. My name is Brenda Bond Fortier. I am professor of public administration at Suffolk University and Boston, and have a career as a practitioner and an academic working with local communities and police organizations 5 00:00:52.180 --> 00:01:10.370 Brenda Bond-Fortier: around a number of things, including police reform. So I'm particularly excited about this conversation and listening and learning today. I also have the pleasure of being the current chair of the Criminal Justice section of the American Society Public Administration, which is the sponsor of today's series. 6 00:01:10.600 --> 00:01:30.880 Brenda Bond-Fortier: and along with my colleagues, Alexandra, Malaysia, and Brian Williams, and several other colleagues who serve on the Executive Committee for this section. We have been really spending many months trying to revive and bring some new life and fresh 7 00:01:30.880 --> 00:01:47.439 Brenda Bond-Fortier: ideas and voices to the conversation around the intersection between public administration and criminal justice. So it's great to be kicking off our second webinar in a series of of webinars that we're hosting this spring. So thanks everybody for joining us. 8 00:01:48.380 --> 00:02:13.339 Brenda Bond-Fortier: Just as an Fyi, we are recording today's session so that we can make that available to our members. And on our website as well. I wanna first offer a special thanks to Brian Williams. Brian is our moderator for today, and he is going to lead this conversation. Brian is a member of the aspa Cj. Section Executive Committee and his full time job is the Assistant 9 00:02:13.340 --> 00:02:21.769 Brenda Bond-Fortier: Associate and associate professor of public policy and founder and director of the public engagement and governance, looking, listening and learning lab. 10 00:02:21.970 --> 00:02:46.800 Brenda Bond-Fortier: I also wanna thank Ali who is also a member of our executive committee. And Alexandra has been fantastic in helping to lead and build out our webinar series. So she is a recent graduate of the Suffolk Mpa. Program and currently works at Boston healthcare for the homeless, and has a real strong in interest in the intersection between criminal justice 11 00:02:46.800 --> 00:03:06.929 Brenda Bond-Fortier: and mental health and social services. So it's great to have Brian and Ally here, and for all of you. I also want to put a plug in for my colleague here at Suffolk University. Matthew, who is seen as the media services. Guru of this webinar has really been helping us to put this together and problem solve as we have launched this 12 00:03:06.930 --> 00:03:28.930 Brenda Bond-Fortier: so many thanks to all of you for making time to be with us today. We hope that you will enjoy this conversation and participate by asking questions and offering your insights later on in the session. So I'm happy to turn this over to Brian, who will introduce our steed panel and get this conversation going. Thanks so much, Brian. 13 00:03:29.140 --> 00:03:33.899 Brian N. Williams: Thank you, Brenda. Good afternoon, or good morning, and thank you all for joining us. 14 00:03:34.010 --> 00:03:44.770 Brian N. Williams: It is indeed a privilege for me to moderate to day's webinar in so many communities across our nation, where living at the intersection of the historic harms of the past 15 00:03:44.950 --> 00:03:52.239 Brian N. Williams: that seem to continue to manifest in similar ways in the present. Consequently public trust and confidence is in the balance. 16 00:03:52.610 --> 00:04:07.529 Brian N. Williams: and we know that these are the coins of the realm and vital pillars that support the institution of policing and our democracy. History has been said to be life's teacher. Yet to many we have not learned from the failures of the foregone days. 17 00:04:07.940 --> 00:04:22.809 Brian N. Williams: The past seems to be prolog. hence calls for police reform in America aren't new out cries. but have resounded for more than a century. Despite the passage of the George Floyd, Justice and Policing Act by the US. House of Representatives. 18 00:04:23.400 --> 00:04:29.140 Brian N. Williams: the bill stalled in the US. Senate, according to the N. Double A. CP. Legal defense fund. 19 00:04:29.250 --> 00:04:30.340 Brian N. Williams: and I quote. 20 00:04:30.690 --> 00:04:36.690 Brian N. Williams: the failure of this legislation to move forward is a failure for our democracy end quote. 21 00:04:37.710 --> 00:04:43.479 Brian N. Williams: Today's Webinar will tap into the live personal and professional experiences of Valerie Lemmy. 22 00:04:43.990 --> 00:04:57.700 Brian N. Williams: a former city manager of Petersburg, Virginia, Dayton, Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio. and Current Sea Advisor for State and Local Government at the Kettering Foundation and Board Chair of the Ohio Civil Rights. Commission 23 00:04:58.210 --> 00:05:04.499 Brian N. Williams: Valerie was a signatory to one of the first comprehensive collaborative agreements among the city 24 00:05:04.810 --> 00:05:06.560 Brian N. Williams: of Cincinnati. 25 00:05:06.750 --> 00:05:15.249 Brian N. Williams: The Cincinnati fraternal order of police and plaintiffs representing those who may have been illegally, racially profiled by the police. 26 00:05:15.790 --> 00:05:21.529 Brian N. Williams: This historic agreement, where she led implementation negotiations on behalf of the city of Cincinnati. 27 00:05:21.880 --> 00:05:26.400 Brian N. Williams: redefined police practices policies and procedures 28 00:05:26.650 --> 00:05:32.860 Brian N. Williams: in response to questionable shootings of young black males by the police and allegations of racial profiling. 29 00:05:33.670 --> 00:05:43.729 Brian N. Williams: Valerie will be joined by Nicholas Inslee. a former chief of police in California. a globally experienced development strategist 30 00:05:43.880 --> 00:05:56.439 Brian N. Williams: and the founder and chief executive officer of the Institute for American Policing Reform. We have a dynamic duo who will offer their insights as we explore the promise. 31 00:05:56.740 --> 00:06:10.360 Brian N. Williams: the potential impossible pitfalls of American police reform. After brief opening statements from Valerie. Then, Nick. I will ask a few questions, then open it up for questions from the audience. 32 00:06:10.660 --> 00:06:24.120 Brian N. Williams: so please forward any questions you may have by using the chat function we will conclude to day's webinar with closing comments from our 2 speakers. followed by a reminder from Allie about our next webinar. 33 00:06:24.730 --> 00:06:27.050 Brian N. Williams: Valerie, I now turn it over to you. 34 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:55.129 Valerie Lemmie: Thank you so much, Brian. I really appreciate the opportunity to join the call today. My friend Nick and I have had the luxury of being able to work together on these kinds of platforms before and as a member of Aspa, it's always great to participate in their work in their webinars. 35 00:06:55.220 --> 00:07:14.429 Valerie Lemmie: Brian, you mentioned in your introduction that we are living at the intersection of the historic harms of the past that continue to manifest themselves in the present. A friend, inspired by a sermon given by Eileen O'brien, rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Austin, shared the following recently on his blog. 36 00:07:14.640 --> 00:07:28.590 Valerie Lemmie: there's no pretence that injustice and torture and murder are anything other than injustice, torture, and murder. However, within the same world that contains these things, we can discover some kind of hope. 37 00:07:28.700 --> 00:07:42.579 Valerie Lemmie: the hope of protest, the hope of truth telling, the hope of generosity, the hope of gesture, even in those places, and so, like Rob Corcoran. These words inspire me and move me to act. 38 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:48.479 Valerie Lemmie: They give me hope that we can achieve in this generation what has eluded us in previous ones. 39 00:07:48.820 --> 00:08:15.379 Valerie Lemmie: and my over 30 years supervising police as city manager, studying them as a researcher and civic leader, and living with them. My husband, 2 of my sons and brother in laws are in law enforcement. I have gained an appreciation for how systems of policing created to manage the status quo of legal segregation and respond on behalf of the power structure, are slow to respond, slow to change 40 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:19.460 Valerie Lemmie: in different times and conditions without protest. 41 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:25.059 Valerie Lemmie: Truth telling, transparency, civilian oversight, and public accountability. 42 00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:54.919 Valerie Lemmie: This historically undemocratic system must become a democratic one where citizens play a starring role, and public officials, including city managers and police officers, align their professional work routines with the way work is done by people who live in communities. They've got to be coordinated. They've got to be in sync in this scenario. Everyone has a role to play in keeping communities, safe government, business and civil society. 43 00:08:55.040 --> 00:09:18.230 Valerie Lemmie: I look forward to discussing the challenges and opportunities cities and counties face in creating a more inclusive, responsive, and effective law enforcement organization and public safety strategy that is democratic and public, facing with both citizens and police Co. Producing the public goods that create healthy, economically viable, and resilient communities. 44 00:09:20.550 --> 00:09:22.980 Brian N. Williams: Thank you, Valerie. Nick. 45 00:09:31.970 --> 00:09:50.269 Nicholas Sensley: thank you very much. Brenda and Allie and Brian, for making this opportunity possible for me that spend this time with my dear friend Valerie, and and to share with those who have joined us in this very important topic of policing in America. 46 00:09:52.680 --> 00:10:02.940 Nicholas Sensley: When I say it's an important topic, and referring to policing in America, sometimes I am challenged to 47 00:10:03.170 --> 00:10:06.439 Nicholas Sensley: feel that it remains consistently 48 00:10:06.680 --> 00:10:11.059 Nicholas Sensley: a concern for the American public about 49 00:10:11.830 --> 00:10:22.040 Nicholas Sensley: how well we care into this space of the most powerful public officials in American society. 50 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:29.439 Nicholas Sensley: I pause for Pilkes to understand that when I say 51 00:10:29.660 --> 00:10:40.589 Nicholas Sensley: we are talking about the most powerful public officials in American society, I have to remind folks often that no other public officials 52 00:10:41.090 --> 00:10:50.809 Nicholas Sensley: have the immediate authority to either remove a person's freedom or to take their life. 53 00:10:51.670 --> 00:10:56.279 Nicholas Sensley: That is a awesome responsibility, and it isn't 54 00:10:56.940 --> 00:11:05.020 Nicholas Sensley: awesome level of authority. And so when I say that it's an important topic for us 55 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:10.949 Nicholas Sensley: to talk more often about, I say it in the context of 56 00:11:11.570 --> 00:11:14.389 Nicholas Sensley: a very serious concern 57 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:16.060 Nicholas Sensley: for 58 00:11:17.290 --> 00:11:24.680 Nicholas Sensley: the complacency that often comes in what has been over 100 years of call 59 00:11:24.810 --> 00:11:34.590 Nicholas Sensley: for reform. Of these of American policing I almost said a call for reform for the American system of 60 00:11:34.680 --> 00:11:42.840 Nicholas Sensley: policing. But the reality is, we do not have a system of policing with over 17,000 61 00:11:43.290 --> 00:11:48.370 Nicholas Sensley: local county and State policing entities in America. 62 00:11:49.170 --> 00:11:59.789 Nicholas Sensley: Unfortunately, there isn't a singular system that guides how these entities operate and up exercised a tremendous authority that they have. 63 00:12:01.190 --> 00:12:09.659 Nicholas Sensley: We often and all too often have had incidents like that of George Floyd and Irene, Nichols, and many others. 64 00:12:10.130 --> 00:12:12.320 Nicholas Sensley: where the nation. 65 00:12:13.420 --> 00:12:22.479 Nicholas Sensley: and in the case of George Floyd, the world goes into a system, a state of being enraged over what they witnessed. 66 00:12:22.730 --> 00:12:27.340 Nicholas Sensley: and the realities of the abuse of policing authority. 67 00:12:28.880 --> 00:12:37.199 Nicholas Sensley: However, what I find in this work to address the issue of policing reform in America. To be 68 00:12:37.470 --> 00:12:44.919 Nicholas Sensley: appalling as well is our lack of commitment as a nation, to remain steadfast 69 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:50.820 Nicholas Sensley: in our outrage over addressing this 70 00:12:51.950 --> 00:12:56.409 Nicholas Sensley: very powerful group of individuals, to whom we owe to them 71 00:12:56.830 --> 00:13:09.029 Nicholas Sensley: a duty of care and accountability for the tremendous authority and the burden of responsibility that we have placed on their shoulders. 72 00:13:09.970 --> 00:13:16.640 Nicholas Sensley: So in the effort that the Institute for American Policing Reform has taken 73 00:13:16.730 --> 00:13:19.719 Nicholas Sensley: to attempt to discover 74 00:13:19.890 --> 00:13:23.989 Nicholas Sensley: the most promising pathway to policing reform in America. 75 00:13:24.410 --> 00:13:30.319 Nicholas Sensley: We are guided by a hope that we can bring America back to a 76 00:13:30.790 --> 00:13:39.690 Nicholas Sensley: consistent and persistent sense of urgency around American policing. because my 77 00:13:39.940 --> 00:13:45.220 Nicholas Sensley: concerns about the power that police in America exercise is not as much 78 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:59.550 Nicholas Sensley: an indictment against policing as much as it is an indictment on America that for far too long we have been complacent about factors of the laws and policy 79 00:13:59.660 --> 00:14:09.410 Nicholas Sensley: that guide and govern American, policing the systems and standards of accountability. the standards, education, and training 80 00:14:09.790 --> 00:14:21.920 Nicholas Sensley: about the level of community ownership and engagement, around, what policing should be, and how there should be oversight of policing and about how police are led 81 00:14:22.260 --> 00:14:24.100 Nicholas Sensley: so that they can be 82 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:28.780 Nicholas Sensley: led through those standards in a way 83 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:35.210 Nicholas Sensley: that develops at every level. In this, in the policing organizations. 84 00:14:35.830 --> 00:14:43.290 Nicholas Sensley: aid and attachment to servant leadership. So today, I feel we have a very special opportunity 85 00:14:43.370 --> 00:14:47.369 Nicholas Sensley: to have an opportunity for discussion 86 00:14:47.920 --> 00:14:58.600 Nicholas Sensley: and question and answer that will. I hope, stimulate more discussion across this nation, so that we continue 87 00:14:58.990 --> 00:15:00.780 Nicholas Sensley: to prioritize 88 00:15:01.690 --> 00:15:12.560 Nicholas Sensley: care and responsibility for community safety, for public safety through the instrumentality of those who step into the space of American policing. 89 00:15:14.060 --> 00:15:28.849 Brian N. Williams: Thank you, Nick, for your opening comments. I'd like to begin now with us kind of focusin in on our focal topic police reform. And we are privilege to have 2 different perspectives. And I'd like for you guys to draw upon your perspectives. 90 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:30.830 Brian N. Williams: What does 91 00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:34.230 Brian N. Williams: police reform mean from a law enforcement perspective 92 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:37.779 Brian N. Williams: and from a city management perspective? 93 00:15:38.140 --> 00:15:39.620 Brian N. Williams: is it possible? 94 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:51.690 Nicholas Sensley: Well, if I may, I'll begin from a a policing perspective, I can. I think, say pretty safely that 95 00:15:52.770 --> 00:16:01.699 Nicholas Sensley: it is largely undefined. In many aspects of the world of policing. 96 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:21.979 Nicholas Sensley: We know that we have various levels and forms of authority exercised under the banner of American policing, or, as it's commonly known, as in law enforcement, and even in the vernacular we use to describe that space, whether it be policing 97 00:16:22.010 --> 00:16:24.140 Nicholas Sensley: police cops. 98 00:16:24.270 --> 00:16:28.680 Nicholas Sensley: law enforcement. it in itself. 99 00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:32.389 Nicholas Sensley: calls for 100 00:16:32.630 --> 00:16:40.329 Nicholas Sensley: a more standardized definition of the role itself. So when we look at policing reform 101 00:16:40.900 --> 00:16:52.299 Nicholas Sensley: from our Institute's perspective. We are uniquely approaching this 100 year. Call for police reform by attempting to discover 102 00:16:52.880 --> 00:16:56.609 Nicholas Sensley: what should reform look like 103 00:16:56.660 --> 00:16:58.770 Nicholas Sensley: for American policing. 104 00:16:59.040 --> 00:17:12.249 Nicholas Sensley: So we are in a 6 year journey, and trust me, it is very difficult in asking America to be patient with a 6 year journey, despite the fact that we've been asking for it for over a hundred years. 105 00:17:12.950 --> 00:17:20.849 Nicholas Sensley: But we are on a 6 year journey, Brian, to try to discover what does reform truly mean 106 00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:30.250 Nicholas Sensley: for American policing? We are guided by the firm belief that the constructs 107 00:17:30.270 --> 00:17:41.170 Nicholas Sensley: in which policing reform should occur are under the 5 pillars that I've mentioned, and that is, we need to look at what needs to be changed 108 00:17:41.300 --> 00:17:56.270 Nicholas Sensley: in laws and policies that oversee policing. What needs to be changed in how police officers are held accountable, what needs to be changed in the standard education and training? What needs to be changed in community engagement? 109 00:17:56.470 --> 00:17:58.200 Nicholas Sensley: And what needs to be changed 110 00:17:58.220 --> 00:18:05.710 Nicholas Sensley: in the development of leadership within the policing circles. But most importantly. 111 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:08.799 Nicholas Sensley: we believe that reform 112 00:18:09.860 --> 00:18:33.030 Nicholas Sensley: from a policing perspective should mean a greater standardization of policing across America. There is no reason for the disparate levels of policing that we have in America, the policing in Louisiana being different from the policing in California being different from the policing in Virginia. That's being different from the policing in New York. So we hope that ultimately one of 113 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:45.090 Nicholas Sensley: the tenets of reform of American policing leads to greater standardization, and that's a difference from federalizing. But the standardization of American policing. 114 00:18:47.800 --> 00:18:52.619 Valerie Lemmie: Thanks, Nicholas, for your comments, and Brian from the perspective of a city manager. 115 00:18:53.050 --> 00:18:56.340 Valerie Lemmie: The bottom line there is. There are 116 00:18:56.570 --> 00:19:21.539 Valerie Lemmie: public institutions that have to own responsibility for the work that has to be done to improve police community relationships. This is not something that is only the responsibility of the law enforcement community to take responsibility for. And this work includes building public trust, and this may require recognition of historic harms, apologies, and our reconciliation initiatives. 117 00:19:21.540 --> 00:19:36.789 Valerie Lemmie: I have used the initiatives of change model in the past which applies a peace building set of strategies and fosters relationship building between police and community and community sector actors, actors and interest 118 00:19:37.040 --> 00:19:44.360 Valerie Lemmie: increasing the legitimacy of public institutions at the local level, including police in the eyes of the public 119 00:19:44.660 --> 00:20:10.479 Valerie Lemmie: people. Not only don't have trust in police, but they don't trust the local government where there are adverse police actions and activities. So it's a responsibility of us all, from the manager's perspective, to to to make the change, to really lead the reforms. The problems then we may see may be endemic to policing, but bureaucratic institutions sustain and able and support the status quo. 120 00:20:10.520 --> 00:20:27.820 Valerie Lemmie: That's why it's a system-wide reform that is needed reforming. Only one part of the system. Policing, for example, won't result in sustained institutional change. Local government must be overhauled to become more transparent, accountable, and democratic 121 00:20:29.050 --> 00:20:48.979 Valerie Lemmie: policing practices, policies, and procedures, as Nick has talked about must be reformed to reflect not only the technical aspects of the job. But community values, expectations, acceptable levels of force when an escalation of force is warranted, including when to call out specialty teams like Swat 122 00:20:48.980 --> 00:21:00.660 Valerie Lemmie: Which is often been likened to a military response. De escalization. De-escalation, for example, should become a higher priority. All agree in the end game 123 00:21:00.730 --> 00:21:05.900 Valerie Lemmie: that we need to have save communities. Our challenge, of course, is how we get there from here. 124 00:21:05.950 --> 00:21:16.850 Valerie Lemmie: embracing technology and engaging the community in the process. As phones with cameras have revolutionized policing. So have cameras in cruisers and on officers, body cams. 125 00:21:16.850 --> 00:21:41.239 Valerie Lemmie: There is controversy with some technology like the use of red light cameras. And this is where community input, possibly through citizen assembly can be critical community values, community issues, community interest have to be engaged. Because that's the way you build trust that it's a collective decision about what will work in my community, and where Nick and I may have a bit of a difference, and what may work in a different community 126 00:21:41.510 --> 00:21:53.929 Valerie Lemmie: designing public safety responses that minimize harm, especially in areas like public health and juvenile justice. And we have a comment in the chat about an experience recently in California. 127 00:21:54.090 --> 00:22:14.980 Valerie Lemmie: an an example that I like to use as police to school disciplinarians know is that the best use of police? What does that mean? Who are the schools that call on police to be in the schools when a teacher defers? What would ordinarily be a disciplinary action from a school system, it becomes a 128 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:34.810 Valerie Lemmie: police issue, a public safety issue, and can often result for a minor discrepancy or violation of a school rule in an arrest. And what implications that has long term, not only for the school and the student and students that could be involved over time, but for those communities 129 00:22:34.890 --> 00:22:48.059 Valerie Lemmie: creating self-communities requires collaboration among all community stakeholders. To repeat, not just law enforcement. This collaboration must be formalized and not simply ad hoc catch can 130 00:22:48.060 --> 00:23:12.039 Valerie Lemmie: think about. docs that ride with ambulances and critical incident situations and mental health response teams that more and more police are adopting in their communities that are despatched dispatch in places like Dayton, Ohio, I'm proud to say, as first responders the call operator will determine whether or not. It is really a mental health response that should be first. 131 00:23:12.040 --> 00:23:23.679 Valerie Lemmie: and the Mental health response team will then call police if it is warranted. So applying the right response, as I mentioned earlier, to the nature of the issue that is at ink. 132 00:23:25.990 --> 00:23:32.030 Brian N. Williams: Thank you. And again, I wanted to remind folks, if you have any questions feel free to include those in chat. 133 00:23:33.150 --> 00:23:35.419 Brian N. Williams: I'd I'd like to 134 00:23:36.560 --> 00:23:41.350 Brian N. Williams: kind of ask an additional question. That kind of 135 00:23:41.370 --> 00:23:45.639 Brian N. Williams: popped into my hand, based upon both your comments. And it basically. 136 00:23:45.760 --> 00:23:51.850 Brian N. Williams: I recalled an African proverb that basically says, to go fast is to go alone. 137 00:23:52.260 --> 00:23:55.480 Brian N. Williams: But to go far requires going together. 138 00:23:56.260 --> 00:24:03.909 Brian N. Williams: And we think about this topic of police reform and the obstacles that are internal and external to 139 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.480 Brian N. Williams: police organizations. 140 00:24:06.090 --> 00:24:17.769 Brian N. Williams: How do we overcome those obstacles. What are those obstacles, and how do we overcome those obstacles? Cause? II do think it requires that all in kind of perspective for reform to happen. 141 00:24:19.210 --> 00:24:29.630 Valerie Lemmie: Well, I'll go first this time and I'm gonna start by saying that I am optimistic about policing reforms when they are implemented through the lens of community 142 00:24:29.770 --> 00:24:46.999 Valerie Lemmie: depending on the times and circumstances. Change comes from protest. I am reminded of my days as city manager in Cincinnati. It was through sustained and gray engaged, and in your face protest that policing reform began in earnest. 143 00:24:47.190 --> 00:25:02.349 Valerie Lemmie: It required a united front by the community government and civil society, navigating the rough waters of change. Sometimes under the oversight of the courts, Federal monitors, and the Department of Justice for Reform to take shape. 144 00:25:02.410 --> 00:25:20.079 Valerie Lemmie: Reform is not a quick or easy process. As others have, said, Nick, you talked about 6 years. It takes time, commitment, and making reform a priority it has to be measured. That which is measured and added in public administration is that which is done. 145 00:25:20.080 --> 00:25:35.649 Valerie Lemmie: The collaborative agreement, for example, that was referenced in my introduction was a 5 year process, and that is only the beginning. Reform and change and oversight are continuous improvements, continuous learning, and continually making a difference. 146 00:25:35.650 --> 00:25:52.699 Valerie Lemmie: I think importantly, the most viable and sustainable change occurs when police and communities, especially black and brown communities that have been underrepresented and marginalized economically, socially and politically, politically, find ways to build trust 147 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:56.270 Valerie Lemmie: and share responsibility for creating safe communities. 148 00:25:56.270 --> 00:26:26.079 Valerie Lemmie: No, Nick, you mentioned the terminology. How we name something is how we respond to it, and is the nature of the problem we fix. And if we think about what we really are discussing is, how do we create safe communities for everyone and who needs to be involved in the creation of those communities. While no easy task the journey can lead to systemic and visible change, including improve legitimacy. When communities employ techniques from the peace movement. 149 00:26:26.080 --> 00:26:36.439 Valerie Lemmie: build trust through knowledge which leads to understanding and from understanding shared learning, which is the infrastructure needed for racial healing and reconciliation 150 00:26:36.440 --> 00:27:01.430 Valerie Lemmie: finding common ground. What are we gonna do to make our community safe? How are we going to act together to advance an inclusive multiracial democracy that's respectful of all. And I talk about the term democracy, because democracy is the power of people to control their fate, and I believe government, in fact, should be and must be in a democratic society controlled by people, their voice 151 00:27:01.430 --> 00:27:25.050 Valerie Lemmie: matters. But because there's so many of us, how do we find that common ground. How do we reach that place where we're in general agreement of the way to go forward through deliberation? Of course it requires us to to think about the trade-offs that we have to make the implications of each of the decisions. And that's also why this is a wicked, long-term problem that will take our time and attention, and it 152 00:27:25.070 --> 00:27:38.070 Valerie Lemmie: absolutely has to be at the forefront of whatever goes on in our local communities. The public must then become co-creators or co-producers with Police and City Hall. To create these safe communities. 153 00:27:38.070 --> 00:27:59.009 Valerie Lemmie: public officials, I believe, must incorporate democratic practices into their professional routines, and by that I mean the level of accountability must be visible. And it must be something that, again, the public holds their public officials to, not just police officers, but mayors and city managers and department heads as well. 154 00:27:59.020 --> 00:28:01.590 Valerie Lemmie: We have to incorporate the best available 155 00:28:01.630 --> 00:28:15.759 Valerie Lemmie: strategies and systems, the best practices that are out there. If we wanna create sustainable viable communities. And and I think one way of making this work public facing is through the support of local journalism. 156 00:28:15.760 --> 00:28:36.590 Valerie Lemmie: where citizens are the journalists and the citizens are engaged, and part of the oversight process. There's always been a controversy about a civilian review board, and those are after the fact the one thing about local journalism is, it can be now. It's easily posted. It's easily checked. And it's a way of keeping everyone involved and engaged in the moment. 157 00:28:36.590 --> 00:28:46.659 Valerie Lemmie: And ultimately, we need to create a culture of civic learning and continuous improvement where everyone accepts responsibility for creating safe communities. 158 00:28:48.410 --> 00:29:03.309 Nicholas Sensley: you know. I don't think that Valerie and I agree on disagree on very much. I mean even to are on the issue of standardization of policing. I believe that the standardization of policing is very essential and necessary. 159 00:29:03.330 --> 00:29:06.049 Nicholas Sensley: but it doesn't take away from the unique 160 00:29:06.310 --> 00:29:20.989 Nicholas Sensley: things that they need to learn and be educated on that are unique to their communities. You can't police a community of 50,000 people. The way that you police a community of 2.5 million people. 161 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:43.289 Nicholas Sensley: And so there are certain academy based trainings that come that brings about the standardization of training. And then there's the local on the job training, or, as we call it, the field training office, or fto programs, where officers have learned or inculcated into the issues that are local to their community. As far as my hope and promise 162 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.790 Nicholas Sensley: I am 163 00:29:45.450 --> 00:29:49.339 Nicholas Sensley: around what can be done within this space. 164 00:29:49.430 --> 00:29:59.759 Nicholas Sensley: It all depends upon the community. It it has to be driven by the very efforts that Valerie described in that 165 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:04.529 Nicholas Sensley: research, shows that there are 2 primary factors 166 00:30:04.690 --> 00:30:09.280 Nicholas Sensley: that leads to genuine reform. 167 00:30:09.350 --> 00:30:25.179 Nicholas Sensley: or at least a significant change. If at the structural level or across the level of the entire culture of the organization, and that occurs when there is strong external pressure. 168 00:30:25.880 --> 00:30:30.790 Nicholas Sensley: and when there is strong internal advocacy within the department. 169 00:30:30.820 --> 00:30:42.130 Nicholas Sensley: those 2 factors are shown to be the key factors that lead to significant change within policing organizations. Otherwise, policing organizations are pretty resilient. 170 00:30:42.290 --> 00:30:51.050 Nicholas Sensley: I can tell you that. I told my board of directors and my staff when I started the Institute 171 00:30:51.310 --> 00:30:58.060 Nicholas Sensley: one month after the murder of George Floyd. I said, I will give America one year. 172 00:30:58.180 --> 00:31:10.150 Nicholas Sensley: 18 months at the far end, to become completely complacent over what every one is in outrage over right now. and I would dare say that it was more accurate. On 173 00:31:10.190 --> 00:31:13.350 Nicholas Sensley: the one year front before 174 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:16.669 Nicholas Sensley: things quieted down, and everyone 175 00:31:16.860 --> 00:31:25.080 Nicholas Sensley: became complacent over all of the concerns that were expressed in that year of outrage over the murder of George Floyd. 176 00:31:25.390 --> 00:31:28.550 Nicholas Sensley: and that's why my greatest indictment 177 00:31:28.580 --> 00:31:40.070 Nicholas Sensley: is against the public, against communities of people in not being willing to remain persistently concerned about 178 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:53.749 Nicholas Sensley: necessary transformational change in policing. Listen, American policing needs to be taken to a new level. It is a vocation, it's not a profession, it cannot be a profession if it doesn't have standardized training, education 179 00:31:54.410 --> 00:31:58.170 Nicholas Sensley: and accountability, and canons and codes of ethics 180 00:31:58.220 --> 00:32:07.100 Nicholas Sensley: which just do not exist in a system where there are 17,000 disparate forms of this service. 181 00:32:07.190 --> 00:32:09.759 And so we do need 182 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:16.959 Nicholas Sensley: the leveling up of American policing. But the only way that's going to occur. 183 00:32:17.510 --> 00:32:21.360 Nicholas Sensley: and my only hope for that change because 184 00:32:22.930 --> 00:32:27.920 Nicholas Sensley: I'm sorry. But it is an absolute reality. I'm a former chief of police, and 185 00:32:29.030 --> 00:32:32.070 Nicholas Sensley: I've run in this space for 186 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:45.880 Nicholas Sensley: over 3 decades. Most police chiefs know. All they have to do is sit back and be quiet and weather the storm of public controversy about policing, which 187 00:32:46.260 --> 00:32:58.460 Nicholas Sensley: seems to come up weekly, but the reality is American policing is still more popular than American Congress, which I'm not sure that says very much these days is a point of comparison. 188 00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:06.080 Nicholas Sensley: I might have to pick a higher point of comparison than that. But the fact that I'm hatter is. 189 00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:19.689 Nicholas Sensley: it's if the pressure does not come from the public and from strong internal advocacy within the police department. We're not going to see any real change in American voicing, that's my 190 00:33:20.060 --> 00:33:21.160 Nicholas Sensley: sense of 191 00:33:21.300 --> 00:33:28.490 Nicholas Sensley: promise and hope. That's why in our work. We begin with the communities in advocating change for their police departments. 192 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:47.819 Valerie Lemmie: And, Nick, I would just add a a bit of an anecdote when I was city manager one of the deputy commanders in the community I was in came up to me a few weeks after I'd started and looked at his wristwatch and said, Ma'am, I'm gonna be here long after you're gone. 193 00:33:47.820 --> 00:34:10.349 Valerie Lemmie: and the accountability part again is not just within the department with the command Staff. It was to me in City Hall and with me as a city manager, and my response was, maybe, but you can be fired, and when you come back I may be gone. But the point will have been made that we are going to change the character of this organization and make it more responsive to the community. 194 00:34:10.350 --> 00:34:25.639 Valerie Lemmie: So I think that some of the obstacles for reform include cynicism. We've disinvited the public from the square and inviting them back requires a new set of civic engagement tools, beginning with starting from where people are 195 00:34:26.370 --> 00:34:35.899 Valerie Lemmie: staying. The course police reform in a long term is a long term investment. There are no quick fixes or silver bullets. Reforms that have staying power 196 00:34:35.969 --> 00:34:42.980 Valerie Lemmie: require our attention left unattended. The most ambitious reforms fail over time. 197 00:34:43.409 --> 00:35:07.679 Valerie Lemmie: Also the power of the status quo implementing reform in a bureaucracy which by nature is not easy to change, requires changing systems, structures, policies, and procedures that's really hard to do. It takes time, attention, and knowledge. But you can't just do it in the police department. You've got to do it in City Hall. If police unions believe that they can 198 00:35:07.680 --> 00:35:18.820 Valerie Lemmie: fund the campaign of an elect official that's going to be sensitive to their issues over the public good. That's a problem, and the system has to ensure that that does not happen. 199 00:35:19.090 --> 00:35:27.920 Valerie Lemmie: I think the best chance of reform has to be done at the local level, though I do agree that standards are appropriate. As a city manager, we have a set of 200 00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:49.919 Valerie Lemmie: tenants that. We ascribe to that. We swear to that we live by a set of standards sort of general training that is provided to us. And I absolutely agree with that. But I also believe that much of this work has to be done at the local level, where police are hired, trained, and deployed. 201 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:56.999 Valerie Lemmie: and where people live. One of the biggest challenges I faced as city manager is the hiring of police officers. 202 00:35:57.000 --> 00:36:20.939 Valerie Lemmie: That's generally not controlled by the city manager. The police chief. It's controlled by and Union States a Civil Service Board our Commission, and they may or may not be interested in the same kinds of things that the city manager is public policy. Officials are. The other problem I discovered with that kind of system is that when there is a problem, I think 203 00:36:20.940 --> 00:36:49.559 Valerie Lemmie: fired someone who, clearly had shot someone in an inappropriate situation, only to be brought back by an outside State control arbitrator where the unions and the State, but not the local government were represented in the arbitration process. So the reform can't just be within the department. It's got to be across the board I believe, as an example, a collaborative oversight body comprised of elected officials. 204 00:36:49.560 --> 00:37:08.790 Valerie Lemmie: city managers, police, the Fo. P. Civil society and philanthropy. Can continue the work begun by President Obama and his 20 first century policing report in recommending the big picture reforms, the large standardizations, Nick, that you are talking about. Now, what's what is the basic 205 00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:14.920 Valerie Lemmie: that we want people to achieve? And we can add to that in in our local communities. 206 00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:38.250 Valerie Lemmie: leaving it to local jurisdiction, certainly to adopt what that add might look like. But have some accountability reforms for those who do not. We do that across the board, with many of our housing and community development programs our healthcare programs. And and so there will be penalties for people who don't meet the standards for people who don't train in in a way that 207 00:37:38.250 --> 00:37:45.320 Valerie Lemmie: their officers know how to respond, know how to de-escalate a situation rather than escalate it when they arrive. 208 00:37:45.320 --> 00:38:04.080 Valerie Lemmie: And this work should be funded and open to the public, you know, if we want police to be transparent. Then those of us who are working on police issues have to be transparent as well. Too often each of these groups separately develop recommendations and they lose lose momentum once out of the spotlight. 209 00:38:04.080 --> 00:38:27.300 Valerie Lemmie: And I think we ultimately should have to recognize success in all America. Cities like Gayla the Academy Awards of Public Safety something that is big, it's visible. There's a cachet associated with it. People want to achieve that kind of recognition for their community. And it is again public facing and democratic in the way it is. 210 00:38:27.330 --> 00:38:31.190 Valerie Lemmie: it engages and involves all those in a community. 211 00:38:32.760 --> 00:38:40.810 Brian N. Williams: Thank you. Great, great responses. I'm jotting down a lot of notes hopefully, others are on who are participating. 212 00:38:40.970 --> 00:38:48.850 Brian N. Williams: And we do have a question that came in. And I'd like to share that question. And it kind of relates back to the comment 213 00:38:48.910 --> 00:38:52.059 Brian N. Williams: from Dave. Thanks for that comment. 214 00:38:52.920 --> 00:39:10.980 Brian N. Williams: In discussions I've had with police officers across the country they describe like this catch all kind of profession that they're in when failures happen, they catch it. So the question that Steve provided is States society does not provide human services on a 24, 7 basis. 215 00:39:11.240 --> 00:39:18.789 Brian N. Williams: Thus, police are called for services that could be provided by mental health clinicians. substance abuse workers or juvenile advocates. 216 00:39:18.910 --> 00:39:29.300 Brian N. Williams: How can we shift the focus and the funds to address those social issues and not blame or lean on police for those for these responses? 217 00:39:30.770 --> 00:39:34.750 Nicholas Sensley: Yeah, I mean, one thing is for certain, we have 218 00:39:35.030 --> 00:39:39.620 Nicholas Sensley: significantly overburdened, policing with 219 00:39:40.270 --> 00:39:50.109 Nicholas Sensley: duties and responsibilities that they neither should be doing by virtue of their training, nor by virtue of being the best resource for responding to the problem. 220 00:39:50.140 --> 00:40:04.539 Nicholas Sensley: And we have all too much evidence that one of those areas is in the space of mental health and responding to calls where, there are mental health distress issues that are involved in in the call. 221 00:40:04.820 --> 00:40:20.529 Nicholas Sensley: I want to say that there are a number of model programs out in the United States that need to be replicated across this country. And again, this is part of what we, as an Institute of doing is, we are going across the country trying to find and discover these best practices. 222 00:40:20.750 --> 00:40:28.629 Nicholas Sensley: to put them forth as the evidences of what can lead to national policing reform universally. 223 00:40:29.010 --> 00:40:30.760 Nicholas Sensley: But with that, said 224 00:40:31.170 --> 00:40:38.919 Nicholas Sensley: communities going to Valery's Point communities need to step in to take ownership for these issues. 225 00:40:39.020 --> 00:40:43.770 Nicholas Sensley: Because what happens is where there's a failure to take true ownership 226 00:40:44.200 --> 00:41:07.689 Nicholas Sensley: of the problems that exist and affect communities. And there is a lack of real strategic engagement and analysis of the problem, and a willingness to put forth the resources to deal with the problem where there is a failure to do that where there's any element for which we can call dangerous, then we'll just stick it on the police department. 227 00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:10.260 Nicholas Sensley: because that's your 24, 7, 228 00:41:10.420 --> 00:41:14.680 Nicholas Sensley: 3, 65 available societal resource. 229 00:41:15.190 --> 00:41:25.790 Nicholas Sensley: And again, it is. It is not only putting a citizens at risk for sending an armed police officers who are in general trained 230 00:41:26.110 --> 00:41:37.159 Nicholas Sensley: to take people into custody as a solution. If I if I can't figure out the problem, then I'm going to remove the problem from its locale. 231 00:41:37.320 --> 00:41:41.910 Nicholas Sensley: right? And what happens in that scenario is 232 00:41:42.600 --> 00:42:00.230 Nicholas Sensley: you're sending a police officer in as though they are adequately trained to analyze and assess a mental health situation and bring it to a resolution that's useful to the person who's suffering the circumstances, or that's useful to the 233 00:42:00.490 --> 00:42:14.719 Nicholas Sensley: persons around that individual that are suffering from that individual's behaviour. Now, sometimes those situations granted are violent. and it requires a response that is needed to help de escalate the violence. 234 00:42:15.610 --> 00:42:18.970 Nicholas Sensley: But even that isn't always 235 00:42:19.650 --> 00:42:26.430 Nicholas Sensley: a need for a police officer to de escalate a situation, and of course it depends upon the level of violence 236 00:42:26.520 --> 00:42:32.649 Nicholas Sensley: or threats of violence that's involved. But my overwatching point here is that 237 00:42:33.080 --> 00:42:36.980 Nicholas Sensley: communities and societies need to own 238 00:42:37.440 --> 00:42:41.609 Nicholas Sensley: the responsibility to invest in 239 00:42:42.780 --> 00:42:44.120 Nicholas Sensley: the tools 240 00:42:44.240 --> 00:43:11.819 Nicholas Sensley: through non profit community based organizations to allow them to do what they do well, and oftentimes far better than police officers. In responding to these situations around mental health, around drug use and drug abuse, drug prevention. All of these things which in many ways have been turned over to police department because a failure, a failure on a part of municipalities and municipal leadership. 241 00:43:11.950 --> 00:43:13.360 Nicholas Sensley: To say it. 242 00:43:14.020 --> 00:43:18.580 Nicholas Sensley: we need to approach this in a very different way rather than 243 00:43:18.720 --> 00:43:31.600 Nicholas Sensley: just hanging. Get on police department because they have the authority and ability to remove these persons from the environment in which they exist. Unfortunately, sometimes, and I put it in such coarse terms. 244 00:43:31.700 --> 00:43:37.300 Nicholas Sensley: they removed those persons on a stretcher, or in the worst case in a body bag. And that's not a good thing. 245 00:43:38.100 --> 00:44:05.120 Valerie Lemmie: and police want to see a different kind of response. They know they're not prepared. They don't want to be first responders. As I mentioned in Dayton, we do have a system now where the dispatcher, based on the nature of the call determines whether or not it's the Mental health response team or police. And if the if it's the Mental Health Response team, if they are first on scene. They will decide if and when police need to respond, and and the officers will tell you that 246 00:44:05.120 --> 00:44:30.049 Valerie Lemmie: that clears them up to do things that really do require the services of a police officer in the appropriate way, in a way that meets sort of community standards and expectations. So Steve, I think more and more communities are adopting these programs. They're now a lot of best practices, a lot of examples. And I would urge you to continue to work in your community to make certain that that 247 00:44:30.050 --> 00:44:39.330 Valerie Lemmie: done that, it's visible, that it's accountable in that the work is measured so you can understand the effectiveness of what's going on. 248 00:44:39.830 --> 00:44:49.399 Nicholas Sensley: Yes, I would add to that that the old excuse that it's too dangerous to be sending anyone else in other than a police officer. 249 00:44:49.430 --> 00:44:52.700 Nicholas Sensley: If the evidence is overwhelmingly 250 00:44:53.280 --> 00:44:56.039 Nicholas Sensley: proving that to be a false narrative. 251 00:44:56.370 --> 00:45:11.850 Nicholas Sensley: and there's lots of work out there, Steve and others who want to look into this, and you'll discover that this is a very progressive area that needs more attention nor more support, more research and more funding to enable it in many communities across the country. 252 00:45:14.260 --> 00:45:20.710 Brian N. Williams: Thank you so very much. Trying to see if there are now the questions in Chat ally. I don't know if you might be monitoring it. 253 00:45:21.230 --> 00:45:41.190 Valerie Lemmie: Well, while you're looking, Brian and Ellie, I'll just offer a comment that Nick and I talked about just before our call. You know, we tend to focus on the institution of policing the institution of governance community sort of the big ticket pieces rather than the offices themselves. And you know we 254 00:45:41.190 --> 00:46:06.139 Valerie Lemmie: are putting an awful lot on the shoulders of these young men and women, expecting a lot, also expecting perfection. There is no tolerance today for a mistake, and that is huge pressure on anybody in any profession. And this is the profession that has second is to make a decision as to whether or not the level and the nature of force they might use in any given situation. 255 00:46:06.170 --> 00:46:36.170 Valerie Lemmie: and my sons have said to me that they believe that they are one dispatched call away from losing their job, losing their reputation because of the lack of community support for the work that they do, especially when they're good officers, and their record and their reputation sustains that. So I think we also have to spend time in not only building trust among institutions, but sort of individual trust and a recognition that 256 00:46:36.520 --> 00:46:59.729 Valerie Lemmie: it's really important who we hire as police officers. When I was city manager. We might have, you know, 2550 slots every couple of years for new police officers, and we might have 4 5,000 applicants, so you could certainly screen and make certain that they met the minimal technical requirements to do the job 257 00:46:59.730 --> 00:47:12.619 Valerie Lemmie: today. Police officers that are being recruited in Ohio. Anyway. They might have 50 available slots, and they're struggling to get 2530 people to apply. 258 00:47:12.680 --> 00:47:42.399 Valerie Lemmie: And of that 2530 of half, maybe don't even meet the minimal qualifications, and those who do can't survive the Academy. So we're not even bringing on the best and the brightest because of the poor status that police now have in communities, and we are not gonna have safe communities. If we don't have the best qualified, the most thoughtful, the most respectable the best trained officers in the world. 259 00:47:42.470 --> 00:47:53.649 Valerie Lemmie: And so if there's anything that gives me pause, it's our inability to attract talent to the profession, and a talent that brings with it a sense of democracy and community values. 260 00:47:54.930 --> 00:47:55.970 Brian N. Williams: Thank you. 261 00:47:56.540 --> 00:47:57.789 Brian N. Williams: We do have. 262 00:47:57.840 --> 00:47:58.860 Brian N. Williams: Yes. 263 00:47:58.880 --> 00:48:07.029 Alexandra Malizia: yeah, just to bring attention to one of the questions that was just answered in QA. What are your thoughts on the culture of human services? Field 264 00:48:07.190 --> 00:48:20.280 Alexandra Malizia: as many individuals don't get into the field to be first responders. Therefore it becomes difficult to find individuals to get into the so social services or mental health field who want to be first responders. 265 00:48:20.340 --> 00:48:32.570 Nicholas Sensley: Yeah, I was just about to type responses to that ally. So I'll be glad to. brought it out. Save me the typing. Yeah. I feel like the human services field is. 266 00:48:33.200 --> 00:48:38.280 Nicholas Sensley: Yeah, it's very much like the field of teaching and 267 00:48:38.480 --> 00:48:40.060 Nicholas Sensley: and policing. And 268 00:48:40.460 --> 00:48:46.339 Nicholas Sensley: I, you know many of the critical services, fields, nursing, etc., in which 269 00:48:46.850 --> 00:49:00.020 Nicholas Sensley: the nation absolutely needs these services. but they are underrated under value, under emphasized for the worth that they add to 270 00:49:00.280 --> 00:49:17.919 Nicholas Sensley: the entirety of the national landscape, you know. Sort of along the lines of Valerie's idea of let's do something even to to bring some good recognition to good policing or something, so that we somehow elevate the importance of the work that's being done, especially the you know, where it's being done. Well. 271 00:49:18.100 --> 00:49:21.170 Nicholas Sensley: And so we we find 272 00:49:21.530 --> 00:49:28.689 Nicholas Sensley: that it is all of the the glory and the glamour goes into. 273 00:49:28.870 --> 00:49:38.930 Nicholas Sensley: You know, folks who want to joy right out in space and joy right under the ocean, and all of the folks who create these opportunities 274 00:49:39.060 --> 00:49:45.850 Nicholas Sensley: for the few who are able to accomplish these things with very little attention being given 275 00:49:45.870 --> 00:49:58.699 Nicholas Sensley: to what I consider the real heroic work of people working in nonprofit organizations. And in these, you know, small human services, organizations that are literally 276 00:49:58.710 --> 00:50:07.730 Nicholas Sensley: saving lives on a daily basis. And so we, I'm sorry to say, and I'm not a a 277 00:50:07.910 --> 00:50:16.339 Nicholas Sensley: negative person. But II feel we have our priorities wrong and society about what is really important 278 00:50:16.370 --> 00:50:30.889 Nicholas Sensley: to make us a better society. And that's why we lose sight of the value and importance of these fields. And so we don't emphasize, and we don't emphasize them as being praiseworthy and noble areas of work to go into. And we need to do more of that. 279 00:50:31.500 --> 00:50:41.109 Valerie Lemmie: And and and, Nick, that is true of public service as a whole, I think about teachers. We certainly don't pay them and value them in the way that we should given. We entrust 280 00:50:41.250 --> 00:50:53.019 our our young people to them, our future leaders, in our communities and in our politics and in our businesses. But I will say that we are repurposing in many of our communities 281 00:50:53.100 --> 00:51:10.449 Valerie Lemmie: traditional firefighters and paramedics. If you look at the world of firefighting. It's a very different profession today than it was 50 years ago, 20 years ago. Thanks to more modern materials, cameras and and other 282 00:51:11.400 --> 00:51:39.970 Valerie Lemmie: skills and and and and sort of resources that allow us to detect a much sooner a problem and a lot of the mental health deployment is through the folks that were quite frankly driving the ambulance and and and wanted to do more could do more and so repurposing folks that are already in government who have a capacity, you know human services personnel, and providing them with the training and the resources. Sometimes it's in the police academies. 283 00:51:40.020 --> 00:52:04.980 Valerie Lemmie: That. These personnel are are getting the training on a de escalation, on how to respond, how to go to a call, and they match that with their human services, their mental health, their mental physical health, professional experience. And and again, that's why it can't just be a police response. It's got to be a universal response. How do we redeploy resources that are being under 284 00:52:04.980 --> 00:52:13.490 Valerie Lemmie: utilize in in areas that can really maximize an opportunity to maintain safety and security within our communities. 285 00:52:14.890 --> 00:52:27.340 Brian N. Williams: Thank you and thank you for that question. We're about to wind down. So I'd like to kind of get our 2 webinar guests to be prepared to share some closing comments. But I did jot down a few notes 286 00:52:27.480 --> 00:52:32.850 Brian N. Williams: what I'm hearing based upon my notes. Police reform is possible, but it's challenging. 287 00:52:33.180 --> 00:52:37.529 Brian N. Williams: It requires resources, those resources, matter 288 00:52:37.560 --> 00:52:41.859 Brian N. Williams: and some of the themes, communal resources, communal investment. 289 00:52:41.920 --> 00:52:48.200 Brian N. Williams: financial resources. human resources, both internal as well as external. 290 00:52:48.340 --> 00:52:57.930 Brian N. Williams: but possibly also political resources, willing to expand the political capital that's needed, and also to kind of keep us folks a little bit. 291 00:52:59.490 --> 00:53:12.730 Brian N. Williams: making sure that we highlight the value that public service adds when I think about ask. But I think about those who serve. And I just want to give a quick shout out about public service week 2024. That starts May fifth through the eleventh. 292 00:53:12.820 --> 00:53:19.490 Brian N. Williams: So that's an opportunity for us to kind of tell our story about the value of public service. Having said all of that, I am, 293 00:53:19.780 --> 00:53:32.710 Brian N. Williams: I continue to be hopeful. II do know that corrective action is collective action. Those are my final words, and I'll now like for our panelists to kind of wrap up with their closing words before turning it over to Ally. 294 00:53:35.320 --> 00:53:57.310 Valerie Lemmie: Of course I I. As I said earlier, I am optimistic that we can do this, but if we are in our communities willing to invest in sports? You know, how many times have we given tax abatements to build a a stadium for a sporting team 295 00:53:57.310 --> 00:54:23.649 Valerie Lemmie: that it virtually impacts. If it's a tax abatement education if we have the same for fervor and interest and excitement about bringing a sports team to town if we could find a way to garner that same kind of enthusiasm and desire for safe communities. Then I think we can find the resources to pay for the work that needs to be done. And we can recognize an ugly 296 00:54:23.650 --> 00:54:35.190 Valerie Lemmie: uplift. The public servants that are willing quite frankly to put their life on the job and on the line to keep us safe, and many of us are not willing to do that because there is a sacrifice for that. 297 00:54:35.260 --> 00:55:04.050 Valerie Lemmie: My son is in surgery as we speak after an accident from a swat. Call out. So you know, these jobs are are tough jobs mentally and physically and knowing that they have a working, positive, supportive relationship in their community, and that they are holding themselves accountable as much as they are the community accountable for safe communities. I think we can make that kind of 298 00:55:04.050 --> 00:55:31.789 Valerie Lemmie: critical, important, and sustained difference. That's necessary not only to be safe, but to further our democracy and to be inclusive and ensure that everyone, no matter their station on, no matter. Their status is safe when they walk down their streets is secure when a response team calls in the community whether it's for them or their neighbor and that the encounter will not cause them the loss of their life. 299 00:55:33.670 --> 00:55:52.870 Nicholas Sensley: There's probably I wanna just say my thoughts and recovery for your son, and getting a healing and the care that he's gonna die knowing. I said this by the way. But you know that that gives all the more support and and prayer for his recovery with others, knowing 300 00:55:54.140 --> 00:55:59.770 Nicholas Sensley: I am hopeful for police reform in America, because. 301 00:56:00.200 --> 00:56:05.450 Nicholas Sensley: despite what may be a general perception in the public. 302 00:56:06.200 --> 00:56:18.980 Nicholas Sensley: American peace officers want reform, they are not afraid of it, and they do not shy from a desire to go to a new level of accountability. 303 00:56:19.160 --> 00:56:31.830 Nicholas Sensley: standards, education and training, and of the policies and laws that govern what they're due and more community ownership around public safety. I've seen it. I travel every single week 304 00:56:32.020 --> 00:56:43.370 Nicholas Sensley: of the year across this country. and am always amazed at the perception that the police officers are afraid of change. They are not. 305 00:56:43.410 --> 00:56:44.780 Nicholas Sensley: they are willing. 306 00:56:44.790 --> 00:56:48.210 Nicholas Sensley: but if we allow it, then 307 00:56:48.430 --> 00:56:52.350 Nicholas Sensley: police officers will continue to do what they do. 308 00:56:52.690 --> 00:57:03.069 Nicholas Sensley: I've never seen as much tension as I see in police departments these days because of the factors that Valerie mentioned Arab earlier, feeling unsupported. 309 00:57:03.220 --> 00:57:08.219 Nicholas Sensley: feeling afraid that they're going to get fired feeling afraid that they're going to get ambushed on the job. 310 00:57:09.120 --> 00:57:18.180 Nicholas Sensley: So America needs to wake up and I get on board with this urgent need to my 311 00:57:18.970 --> 00:57:21.680 Nicholas Sensley: take back the reins of public safety 312 00:57:22.230 --> 00:57:34.990 Nicholas Sensley: and relieve this burden for us all, so that we can together truly own public safety and community safety in this nation. And II think it can be done. 313 00:57:35.470 --> 00:57:51.469 Valerie Lemmie: And Brenda and Brian and Ally, I wanna give a special shout out to you because it's sessions like this that will help keep these issues in the forefront before the public. Public. Keep the conversation going. And through them demand that we act. 314 00:57:53.350 --> 00:57:59.510 Alexandra Malizia: Thank you, Valerie and Nicholas, for joining us. Everything that you guys have said about American policing reform has been 315 00:57:59.530 --> 00:58:12.820 Alexandra Malizia: super valuable and very insightful, for not only the ask the criminal justice numbers, but just for everyone in the community. I would like to take this moment to just kind of announce our upcoming events. So. 316 00:58:12.910 --> 00:58:22.080 Alexandra Malizia: as a board member of the Aspect Criminal Justice Section, we are committed to providing valuable and timely discussions on these important issues in criminal justice. 317 00:58:22.170 --> 00:58:29.210 Alexandra Malizia: So our webinar is aimed to bring together diverse perspectives and promote informed and evidence-based solutions 318 00:58:29.220 --> 00:58:32.319 Alexandra Malizia: for these challenges that we are facing in today's society. 319 00:58:32.460 --> 00:58:40.560 Alexandra Malizia: So our section will be hosting a webinar on the third Tuesday of each month, so our next webinar will be held on April 320 00:58:40.620 --> 00:58:55.440 Alexandra Malizia: on the Webinar will be pairing with 2 members of our of the United Kingdom. From St. Giles. Trust. This is an organization that deals directly with homeless individuals and incarcerated individuals who are in and out of the system. 321 00:58:55.550 --> 00:59:06.130 Alexandra Malizia: We will be discussing the intersectionality of criminal justice, social services, and those who are in and out of incarceration and the resources we have to provide for them. 322 00:59:06.410 --> 00:59:18.879 Alexandra Malizia: we will be able to learn more about the startup of the St. Giles Trust, and hear directly from our 2 panelists on how they have been able to create the system, and how they hope to spread the system across other nations. 323 00:59:19.540 --> 00:59:27.709 Alexandra Malizia: We will be joined by experts in the field who will be able to discuss the use of lethal force by law enforcement officers 324 00:59:27.760 --> 00:59:33.239 Alexandra Malizia: and the impact it has on communities. This webinar will take place on May 20. First. 325 00:59:33.260 --> 00:59:42.220 Alexandra Malizia: we will explore alternative methods of de-escalation and crisis interventions that can be used to reduce legal force in criminal justice. 326 00:59:42.370 --> 00:59:52.180 Alexandra Malizia: This webinar is especially timely. Given the recent events and discussions surrounding police brutality and the need for police reform as we have discussed in this current webinar. 327 00:59:53.350 --> 01:00:11.149 Alexandra Malizia: our June webinar will actually be a skills-based webinar led by our chairperson, Brenda Bond frontier it is an interactive section designed to introduce participants, to participants. The essential skills and knowledge is needed to successfully navigate the world of grant applications. 328 01:00:11.330 --> 01:00:27.500 Alexandra Malizia: And it's geared towards individuals and organizations, thinking funding for projects, programs, research and and or initiatives. So this webinar and Grant, writing 101, will introduce the fundamental elements of effective grant writing skills. 329 01:00:28.100 --> 01:00:39.660 Alexandra Malizia: Ultimately, our section believes that by coming together and engaging in these meaningful dialogues we can work together and collectively create a more equitable form of criminal justice within our system. 330 01:00:39.730 --> 01:00:55.039 Alexandra Malizia: And we encourage all members as well as anyone interested in criminal justice to join these events and these webinars and share it with your colleagues. We all work together to drive positive changes in criminal justice section. So it doesn't start with just one organization. It's a team effort. 331 01:00:55.330 --> 01:01:06.439 Alexandra Malizia: So if you have any questions or would like to view all of our upcoming webinars, or have more information on Valerie and Nicholas, we will be able to post all of this information on our website. 332 01:01:06.450 --> 01:01:11.049 Alexandra Malizia: and if you want a copy of our recording as well, it will be posted on there by the end of month. 333 01:01:14.530 --> 01:01:26.089 Brenda Bond-Fortier: Thank you, Ally, and thank you all very much. It has been really such a pleasure and a treat to spend a little time hearing from you and thinking and talking about 334 01:01:26.090 --> 01:01:45.659 Brenda Bond-Fortier: the challenges, but also the opportunities. So just wanted to again put a shout out to Brian, Valerie, and Nicholas for joining us, and to all who made time to be with us. Please spread the word about the Aspa Criminal justice section, and hope to see you all in the future. Take care very much. Everyone 335 01:01:46.250 --> 01:01:48.049 Nicholas Sensley: thanks everyone, bye.