The Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) has released a new report from the association’s Subcommittee on Accountability and Societal Change, established in the wake of the George Floyd murder to develop proposals that could be implemented at the local and state level to enhance trust, ensure transparency and accountability, and strengthen relationships between the police and the communities they serve.
Boynton Beach Police Chief Michael G. Gregory was one of 11 law enforcement executives to serve on the Subcommittee, which was also composed of 11 community leaders from across the state.
“The sub-committee members approached this endeavor carrying perceptions based on our experiences, as do most people in our communities,” Chief Gregory said. “However, the openness of everyone to listen, and in many cases be persuaded on these critical issues in policing, made the final report a must-read for police and community leaders who seek to improve the delivery of police services and community relationships.”
This report informed the development and passage of House Bill 7051, relating to law enforcement practices, that passed during the 2021 Florida Legislative Session. The Subcommittee reviewed six main “pillars” from the 2015 Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, prepared by the federal Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, as the framework for this discussion.
These pillars were:
Building Trust & Legitimacy
Policy & Oversight
Technology & Social Media
Community Policing & Crime Reduction
Training & Education
Officer Wellness & Safety
The FPCA’s Board of Directors approved this second report at their recent summer meeting. The report is comprehensive and speaks for itself, and builds on the 2015 federal report and House Bill 7051 by including numerous, specific action items. The report further prioritizes these action items within a framework of responsibility for law enforcement agencies or communities, or both, to provide a roadmap to implementing the broader recommendations and continue making progress together.
The full report may be viewed here. Subcommittee members comment on their work in a video here. A website with additional information is available here.
