The Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) today released the first report from the association’s Subcommittee on Accountability and Societal Change, established in the wake of the George Floyd murder. FPCA president and Satellite Beach Police Department Chief Jeff Pearson said, “The Florida Police Chiefs Association promised to lead the way to strengthen trust and accountability between law enforcement and the communities they serve. This report puts those promises into action.”
The report makes numerous recommendations on the use of force and other related issues, using the 2020 National Consensus Policy and other nationally recognized talking points as the foundation of discussion, and sets additional guiding principles that Florida law enforcement agencies should follow. Highlights include:
- Banning both chokeholds and vascular neck restraints except when deadly force is authorized. This is a high bar only crossed when an officer must protect themselves or others from what is reasonably believed to be a threat of death or serious bodily harm.
- Requiring de-escalation whenever possible and appropriate before resorting to force. Requiring verbal warnings before shooting, where feasible.
- Requiring an officer’s duty to intervene to prevent or stop another officer’s use of excessive force.
- Requiring comprehensive reporting when force is used, including reporting when an officer points a firearm at someone, even if it is not discharged.
- Recommending that in the case of a critical incident, law enforcement administrators release as much information as appropriate under the law as quickly as possible, to reduce the spread of rumors and incorrect information.
- Reaffirming the principle of officer accountability for the use of excessive force or other policy violations, as allowed under the Officer’s Bill of Rights, Florida’s public records law, and other legal requirements.
- Calling for a renewed focus on actively recruiting police officers that reflect the demographics of the communities they serve.
Said Pearson, “On behalf of the board, I want to thank subcommittee chairman and St. Petersburg Police Department Chief Anthony Holloway and the subcommittee members, including the participating community leaders, for their contributions to this initial report.”
Said Pearson, “Now, the subcommittee will continue its work. This report is the first step, but not the last”.
The full report may be viewed here.
For reference, the 2020 National Consensus Policy may be viewed here.
About the Florida Police Chiefs Association
The Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) is the nation’s pre-eminent law enforcement professional association, speaking for more than 900 of Florida’s top law enforcement executives, and providing guidance and leadership for the future of law enforcement and our communities. The FPCA serves municipal, airport, college and university, and tribal police departments, as well as private businesses and security firms and federal, state and county law enforcement agencies across every region of the state. For more information about the FPCA, please visit www.fpca.com.
