Policy Resolution LJE-16-30

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) believes it is imperative that an effective system of law enforcement is vital to both the continued development of a community and its livability;

WHEREAS, a relationship of trust and respect between law enforcement and citizens is vital to maintaining an effective law enforcement system;

WHEREAS, there has been several reports on law enforcement officers who have escaped or overcome disciplinary action in spite of allegations of severe misconduct;

WHEREAS, the Chicago Tribune conducted an analysis and found that nearly 60 percent of all complaints against police officers were thrown out without being fully investigated because of failure to sign required affidavits;

WHEREAS, a national register would effectively treat law enforcement professionals who have the power to make arrests, perform searches and use deadly force the way states’ licensing laws treat other professionals; and

WHEREAS, expanding this system will ensure national and standardized reporting to assist in ensuring that officers who have lost their certifications for misconduct are not easily hired in other law enforcement jurisdictions.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, a national registry that is accessible to all law enforcement agencies should be created that requires each state to register and report the names of law enforcement officers that have committed misconduct and are fired or resign from a position during or after an investigation based on malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance of duty;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) supports and recognizes the importance of enacting laws to properly report misconduct of law enforcement officers and increase the effectiveness of law enforcement officers oversight that is vital to prevent erosion of trust and confidence in law enforcement systems;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL encourages the U.S. Department of Justice, through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, to partner with the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards And Training (IADLEST) to expand its national decertification index to serve as the national register of decertified officers with the goal of covering all agencies within the united states and its territories; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of The United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• SPONSOR: Representative Alan Williams (FL)
  
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Law, Justice, and Ethics Policy Committee
  
• Certified by Committee Co-Chairs: Senator Arthenia Joyner (FL) and Representative Reginald Meeks (KY)
  
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 4, 2015
  
• Ratification is certified by: Senator Catherine Pugh (MD), President