Dear Gladys,

In response to President Trump rescinding an executive order that created a national database for police misconduct, the Department of Justice (DOJ) shut down the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database. [1]  Why is this important? This database helped ensure that officers with a history of misconduct and mistreatment of civilians were held accountable and not able to move easily between police departments.

Congress must step in immediately. Sign our letter to Congress to take action to reinstate the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD) and ensure that officers with histories of misconduct cannot move between departments without a background check.

Tamir Rice was a 12-year-old boy who was shot by a police officer while playing with a toy gun in a Cleveland, Ohio, park. Timothy Loehmann, the officer responsible for Rice’s death, had a history of troubling behavior prior to this incident and was even deemed unfit for duty at his previous employment in a different police department. Their concerns? His lack of emotional stability and poor performance during his police training, especially in his inability to handle firearms. [2]  Yet, despite all of this information about Loehmann clearly being unequipped for the job, he was still hired by the Cleveland Police Department. This is just one of many heartbreaking reminders of the consequences of when police are able to perform misconduct unchecked. The police officers responsible for the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, and Eric Garner all had histories of troubling and inappropriate behavior, including complaints of unnecessary use of excessive force. [3][4][5[6][7]

This is clearly problematic. Had there been a nationwide database to keep this important information, it could have flagged these officers’ past actions and provided insight as to whether or not they should continue employment in law enforcement altogether. After all, the duty of a police officer is to protect and promote peace in our communities, not invoke fear and anxiety.

We demand an increase in transparency and accountability within law enforcement. The decision to shut down the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database eliminates a critical tool for identifying and tracking discrimination—including gender-based and racial discrimination—and violence—including physical, sexual, psychological violence, and harassment—from police officers and all law enforcement. Furthermore, this decision is a step backward in building public trust.

Join us in demanding that Congress take action to restore a crucial and essential tool for protecting all of us.

Together, we will stand up for police accountability and the safety of our communities.

Sincerely,

Diarra, Kelsey, Beatriz, Monifa, Kristin, and the whole MomsRising.org & MamásConPoder Team

References:
[1] Justice Department deletes database tracking federal police misconduct
[2] Officer Who Killed Tamir Rice Found Unfit in Previous Police Job
[3] Mapping Police Violence 
[4] The police shooting death of Breonna Taylor, explained
[5] Behind the Video of Eric Garner’s Deadly Confrontation With New York Police
[6] Timeline: The shooting death of Philando Castile
[7] The Sandra Bland Video - What We Know