05/30/2020
Our government can create entire alphabet agencies and other departments with the stroke of a pen. What will it take for us, the people, to apply real agency into creating our own institutions?
It is fair to say that the general consensus is that we are currently living in a police state. In addition, faith and trust in our entire justice system could be said to be at an all time low.
Ideas have been pitched ad infinitum on how to reform policing, the world over. How do you feel this can this be done? I've advocated a creation of something like N.A.P.O. and many others have proposed similar ideas and goals. The legal framework, structure, planning etc. for such an endeavor may be monumental... but I think we can all agree 'something' needs to happen.
To be blunt, we do not ask disease to hold itself accountable for the harm it causes, we diagnose, treat, and attempt to remove it by any means necessary or possible. Afterall, healthy cells, tissues, etc find it hard to function correctly with bad neighbors. What I'm saying is self accountability is often rather difficult to secure without external influence.
We need to be that external influence. Separate, yet part of a whole. I sincerely believe that if we create an institution that is made up of something like an 'elected jury' we can hire, fire, retain, promote, demote, screen (etc) positions of law enforcement at every level.
The easiest way I can think of pitching this: if law enforcers are employed in much the same way athletes are to make a team, I wager we would see a massive reduction in criminal misconduct almost immediately. I mean, an NFL team would never tolerate a wide receiver who fumbles all the time, so why do law enforcers with their own 'rap sheet' still have a job? Internal investigations, poor training, 'fast track' recruitment to name a few.
We can do better. We deserve better.
It is not impossible to restore trust in law enforcement. It is also not possible to sustain current practices without further, unacceptable, tragedy.
