Delaware Police Reforms Are a Step Forward — But Far From Enough
Delaware's recent police reform laws are a commendable move towards enhancing accountability and transparency within the law enforcement system. However, these measures fail to reach the level of comprehensive reform needed to address the systemic issues plaguing the state's police forces.
While the revised Law-Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights includes essential changes, such as extending protections to part-time officers and requiring completion of investigations into officer misconduct regardless of the officer's employment status, it stops short of providing sufficient oversight and robust checks and balances.
First, we must create these reforms in a balanced manner. Community engagement in police reform efforts is crucial in fostering mutual understanding, trust, and respect between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Engaging the community provides invaluable insights into the unique needs, experiences, and perspectives of the local population and encourages a sense of collective responsibility and commitment to public safety.
Communities can contribute to police reform in various ways, from responding to surveys and attending public meetings to serving on oversight boards. Active participation ensures that reforms are adequate, relevant, and responsive to the local context. Indeed, community engagement is the cornerstone of a democratic approach to police reform, one that values and incorporates public input to create a more transparent, accountable, and equitable law enforcement system.
The experiences of cities like Los Angeles and Seattle underscore the power of community engagement in fostering police reform. By involving the community in meaningful ways, these cities have made significant strides in enhancing transparency and accountability and rebuilding public trust in their police departments. Hence, community engagement should be at the heart of any comprehensive and impactful police reform effort.
Moreover, creating a law enforcement inspector general can also ensure transparency and accountability within law enforcement agencies. This can foster trust between the community and the police, ultimately leading to safer and more inclusive neighborhoods. Unlike the Office of Civil Rights in Attorney General Kathy Jennings’s Office, the IG’s role would be more akin to that in Seattle, providing independent oversight and amplifying the community's voice in police reform. The IG's oversight extends beyond internal police investigations into possible misconduct, encompassing departments' management, operations and procedures to contribute to public safety and trust positively. The IG's independent authority increases transparency and accountability, fostering public confidence in the law enforcement system.
Finally, the current provision for a Criminal Justice Senior Planner position responsible for compiling and publishing narratives and preparing an annual report is lacking. Establishing a sense of gravitas and securing adequate funding is crucial when integrating the new Police Officer Standards and Training Commission into the Criminal Justice Council. To ensure the commission's endeavors are taken seriously, it is imperative to appoint an experienced executive director to lead the commission. This individual should be supported by a team of competent staff and analysts who can effectively drive tangible change.
Delaware's recent reform laws are a step in the right direction; further measures are needed to ensure comprehensive and impactful change. The community must be involved, oversight must be strengthened and adequate funding should be provided to ensure the successful implementation of these reforms.
