The Asheville Police Department (APD) and the Community Police Policy Work Group recently completed a second meeting where de-escalation policies were reviewed.
A copy of the draft for de-escalation policies and a report on the process is available on the APD website. The public is invited to review the policies and comment.
Review the policies here.
Public comment will be taken here through Jan. 31, 2017.
Members of the Community Working Group expressed appreciation for the process and are encouraged that there is a recommendation to make explicit efforts to measure the effectiveness of the policies. Additionally, members noted that training for all officers in the use of de-escalation strategies, tasers, crisis intervention, implicit bias, and body-worn cameras has the potential to significantly improve the community’s trust of law enforcement.
Members of the Community Working Group note that the changes to the policies are a vast improvement, particularly the explicit directives to honor the value of all lives, to consider the use of de-escalation strategies and the proportionality of response, and to consider possible circumstances for noncompliance with an officer’s request, such as mental impairment.
Members of the Community Working Group applaud these crucial changes and will work with APD on the implementation of these policies. The Group will continue to participate in implementing additional strategies to further trust between law enforcement and the community.
Participants in the meeting included:
Curry First, Betty Council, Rev. James Lee, Tyronne Greenlee, Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Gene Bell, Carmen Ramos Kennedy, Beth Maczka, Rev. Damita Wilder, Amy Jackson, Angelica Wind, Chief Hooper, Sgt. Boyce, and Sgt. Byrd.