Statement on Improving Police Practices and Enhancing Public Safety
Over the past weeks, we have seen the nation come together in the fight for equity and racial justice. To establish community trust and address centuries of structural racial inequities, we must work diligently to ensure that law enforcement is accountable and that our legal system works for everyone - no matter their race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic or immigration status.
I pledge to advocate for data-based reform policies that strengthen our community and public safety for ALL Arlingtonians. Our collective goal must be public safety that enables our community to thrive and have opportunity.
To that end, I support:
Police Department Leadership Search
Conducting a nationwide search for the next Chief of Police ahead of Police Chief Farr’s upcoming retirement.
Establish a robust series of listening sessions throughout the community prior to the initiation of the search, to allow Arlingtonians the opportunity to provide input on the qualities and characteristics they desire in our new Police Chief.
Oversight and Accountability
Establishing a Civilian Police Review Board that creates a structural level of accountability and trust between the community and the Arlington County Police Department.
Prioritizing the funding and use of body-worn cameras as well as the management system and personnel needed to collect, store, process and make the data available.
Conducting a review of policies to ensure that disciplinary and training practices support the desired policing practices.
Calling for mandatory intervention of other officers when they see excessive use of force.
Ensuring whistleblower protection for officers who report other officers for inappropriate use of force.
Funding and Training
Reexamining our budget priorities in order to ensure that the Arlington County Police Department’s budget reflects our progressive values and commitment to inclusive public safety with a focus on community policing. Specifically, prioritizing training against racial and cultural biases and methodically collecting data that allows us to identify and address disparities.
Deprioritizing funding for, or the acceptance of, military equipment.
Conducting an in-depth review of how the department responds to mental healthrelated emergency calls. We must prioritize sending properly trained responders, preferably in plain clothes, who would be accompanied by mental-health specialists (psychologists or psychiatrists). All police officers must have Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and receive refresher training on a regular basis.
Ensuring that law enforcement training and internal policies, particularly concerning the use of force, are consistent with Arlington values.
Arlington County Police Department and Arlington Public Schools
Ensuring that the Arlington County Police Department and the Arlington Public Schools adhere to the joint Memorandum of Understanding.
Reviewing and monitoring the Memorandum of Understanding annually by Police, Arlington Public Schools, and community stakeholders to ensure compliance and recommend improvements.
Collecting data regarding police involvement and discipline in schools to ensure we are striving to eliminate disproportionality, reducing both the direct and indirect school-to0prison pipeline.
Utilizing restorative justice practices in the schools, in police interactions, and in the judicial system for our children and young citizens.