News release from State Senate candidate Marcus Brown:
In light of the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the rampant issue of police violence across the country, Bridgeport City Council Member and candidate for 22nd State Senate District Marcus Brown today expressed his support for those protesting the killing and laid out policies to immediately address police violence.
“Like so many in our state and across our country right now, I’m devastated. I’m exhausted. I’m angry that this continues to happen, and I stand with the people demanding change,” said Brown. “I’m thankful to those who are choosing to safely protest, march, sign petitions, contribute to bail funds and organizations, and take other meaningful actions in the pursuit of racial justice. As a legislator, I know we must also meet this moment with concrete policy changes.
“Our state has made some headway in the last year to address the glaring issues in our criminal justice system and protect communities of color–but we have to do much, much more. With a lack of national leadership, it’s even more important for state and local governments to take the lead on improving our criminal justice system and putting an end to police violence. This is a life and death issue for people who look like me, and it’s imperative that we act swiftly and boldly to make law enforcement accountable to the people they are paid to serve,” Brown concluded.
To address police violence and make our communities safer, Brown is calling for the state to take the following measures:
— Require independent investigations of all police-involved fatalities and injuries, and independent prosecutions when laws have been broken.
— Mandate that internal affairs reports and personnel files are subject to state Freedom of Information (FOI) laws. In the most recent state police contract, these files are not subject to FOI laws if claims are “unsubstantiated.”
— Reintroduce legislation to hold police officers accountable for the use of excessive force, and increase penalties on those officers.
— Require the state’s newly-created Police Transparency and Accountability Task Force to regularly meet and publicly report on findings and policy recommendations.
— Classify white nationalist and white supremacist organizations as terrorist groups, a measure that Brown introduced to the City Council in 2019.
— Require all police officers to wear body cameras, and enforce the requirement for footage to be released within 96 hours of an officer-involved incident.
— Require officers to go through ongoing comprehensive trainings on implicit bias and de-escalation tactics.
— Address mass incarceration by supporting community policing efforts and alternatives to arrest, and investing in Restorative Justice programs.
Please, you are a day late and a dollar short.
And a chicken in every pot!
Better Never than LATE!
LOL..Hey at least he tried.
Nothing new.
Bridgeport PD has to have cameras on for every interaction already. So that’s done.
The FOI, is unconstitutional for unsubstantiated claims because it would tarnish the officers reputation and diminish them based on bias and false claims. If that officer ever went for another job interview and even though it was unsubstantiated due to a lie, the fact the that he has a record of that would diminish his image. That’s not fair.
Independent review of use of force, well sure but it better be by someone who has knowledge of the law and prosecution. Wait we do that already independent state police and states attorneys office.
Clowns 🤡 keep pressing things that already exist for votes.
Another idiot!
Lol so no logical rebuttal from you ? Good.
Councilperson Brown,
You have enjoyed an oversight position on the Council for some years yet I have not heard you address any issues in the Police Department. You will have clearly observed many voices from the community asking about “genuine” community policing that might change the focus of policing from looking for violent crime all the time, even when it is not present, to getting to know the actual public who reside, maintain businesses and serve the public in so many other ways. You might also weigh in on whether police/community culture would improve if more police personnel lived in the City and positions among the force more equitably represented the racial face of those who live here?
Can you tell me where the members of the Police Commission serve as community role models or leaders who open two-way communication with the public to improve the knowledge of injustice locally and increase respect by all of those who work to serve attention to the laws of the land. Where do you encourage and participate in community conversations that provide learning to all about what anti-racism action means when it comes to the role of police, what they are trained for, how they are assigned and the overall funding of status quo services. Is there a need to review and RECONSTRUCT the role of 21st Century public safety? Time will tell.
JML, it’s a little awkward when your having an “affair ” with the Mayor’s aid to jepodize his job. Silly you?!