Zephyr Teachout and Tim Wu Letter on Police Militarization

[cal04]

Dear Superintendent D’Amico, Commissioner Green, Chairwoman Weinstein, and Chairman Bonacic,

We are writing to you about the disturbing scenes we are seeing in Ferguson, Missouri, where police units are using the tactics and weapons of warfare in a domestic situation against a dispossessed racial minority.

The Department of Defense Excess Property Program (1033 Program) “provides surplus DoD military equipment to state and local civilian law enforcement agencies” across the country, including to the Ferguson police department and to departments in New York.

In light of these unfortunate events in Ferguson, we request a review of New York policies regarding the receipt, use, funding, and costs of equipment received under the 1033 Program. This review could serve as a prelude to New York state formulating policies for the use of military equipment in the state. It should also include an examination of new ideas for policing transparency, such as the use of body-mounted cameras on all police. Such cameras have been shown to reduce excessive use of force by police officers and citizen complaints.

We think it is important to understand what potential effect the availability of surplus military equipment has on New York’s policing culture. Given what we are seeing in Ferguson, it seems reasonable to review policies in New York before such a situation presents itself here

rest of letter
http://www.teachoutwu.com/release_letter_on_militarization

[hrmjustin]

1. They have my vote in the primary.