In 2018, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced a resolution of shared principles. It was designed to bridge the gap of mistrust between Police and communities of color. These shared principles identify the common ground between local Law Enforcement and communities of color, in their commitment to, and passion for, defending civil rights and keeping communities safe.
On Monday, April 1, 2019, Morrison Police Department joins more than 140 Law Enforcement agencies in the State of Illinois by adopting these shared principles.
Chief Brian Melton stated, “We all want the same thing: to live in a safe community where everyone has the opportunity to live out that American dream. We at the Morrison Police Department value and respect each person and are committed to serving our community. To serve, we need to broaden our sense of community, build relationships, regain and maintain trust, and commit to shared values.”
By adopting these Shared Principles, Morrison Police Department is publicly expressing its commitment to working together and standing with our communities.
For more information, please visit the ILACP’s website at https://www.ilchiefs.org/.
A document of the Shared Principles accompanies this media release.
Adoption of Shared Principles by Morrison Police Department
WHEREAS, on March 22, 2018, the NAACP Illinois State Conference and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police agreed to Ten Shared Principles designed to build trust between Law Enforcement and communities of color, and
WHEREAS, the two Statewide associations vowed “by mutual affirmation to work together and stand together in our communities and at the State level to implement these values and principles, and to replace mistrust with mutual trust wherever, whenever, and however we can,”
NOW BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Morrison, IL, Police Department adopts these same Ten Shared Principles as their own, and thereby adds its name to the historic agreement between the Illinois NAACP and the ILACP. Following are the Ten Shared Principles.
- We value the life of every person and consider life to be the highest value.
- All persons should be treated with dignity and respect. This is another foundational value.
- We reject discrimination toward any person that is based on race, ethnicity, religion, color, nationality, immigrant status, sexual orientation, gender, disability, or familial status.
- We endorse the six pillars in the report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The first pillar is to build and rebuild trust through procedural justice, transparency, accountability, and honest recognition of past and present obstacles.
- We endorse the four pillars of procedural justice, which are fairness, voice (i.e., an opportunity for citizens and Police to believe they are heard), transparency, and impartiality.
- We endorse the values inherent in community policing, which includes community partnerships involving Law Enforcement, engagement of Police officers with residents outside of interaction specific to enforcement of laws, and problem-solving that is collaborative, not one-sided.
- We believe that developing strong, ongoing relationships between Law Enforcement and communities of color at the leadership level and street level will be the keys to diminishing and eliminating racial tension.
- We believe that Law Enforcement and community leaders have a mutual responsibility to encourage all citizens to gain a better understanding and knowledge of the law, to assist them in their interactions with Law Enforcement officers.
- We support diversity in Police Departments and in the Law Enforcement profession. Law Enforcement and communities have a mutual responsibility and should work together to make a concerted effort to recruit diverse Police Departments.
- We believe de-escalation training should be required to ensure the safety of community members and Officers. We endorse using de-escalation tactics to reduce the potential for confrontations that endanger Law Enforcement Officers and community members and the principle that human life should be taken only as a last resort.