Five Pillars of Police Reform
Our five Pillars are a continuum of reform each one being equally as important as the other, and all interrelated and interdependent. This being said, it is important to note that all our work at IAPR begins with the community. In order to advance community wellness, we must begin to see community as inclusive of peace officers, faith leaders, local government, citizens, and community leaders alike.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION
Police reform must be developed through citizens’ participation in a change process that is compassionate, mindful of history, sensitive to racial and gender identities, ethnicity, and cultural diversities of communities and of the country. Reform must be strategically exhaustive and without regard to sustaining systems simply because they have historically existed.
POLICING STANDARDS, EDUCATION, & TRAINING
Reform leading to adherence to the best standards and training, and to instinctive and customary peer-to-peer level adherence to the most promising practices possible is crucial to preventing police misconduct.
POLICING LAWS & POLICIES
We believe that uniformity in laws and policies on police conduct will add to consistent and generally accepted adjudication of all police conduct.
Read our white papers on Qualified Immunity and Police Use of Deadly Force here.
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
Accountability is the core of earning and sustaining trust. Police accountability must be reflected in transparency, honesty, competency, fairness, respectfulness, unbiased and impartial application of the law, and submission to the law by those who enforce it.
POLICE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Police service must be led by persons who are determinedly committed to the highest regard for human dignity and for public care and safety. Police officers must be led and held accountable by persons who inspire a steadfast practice of great and unbiased care for all human beings.