DearMayorMoore:

Havingconvenedourcommitteeafterlisteningtoandsolicitingtheconcernsand
suggestionsofthecommunity,wehavepreparedalistofactionsthatthecommunitywould
liketoseedonetobeginthehardworkofmendingrelationsbetweenthiscommunityand
theElkhartPoliceDepartment.

OuractioncommitteewouldalsoliketoconveneameetingwithMayorMoorenext
weekat4pmonanyofthefollowingdatestofurtherdiscusssolutionstothe
existingissuessurroundingcommunityandpolicerelationsinElkhart.August18,
19,20,or21.

Webelievethattheitemsonthelistcanbeexecutedandimplementedwithminimaleffort,
andofferourassistanceandresourcestoassistifneeded.Giventheshortageofofficers,
webelievethatthesalarymoniesnotinusebytheshortfallwouldbeproperlyservedif
spentonimplementingtheserequests.Welookforwardtowaystocontinuouslyworkwith
theCityandtheElkhartPoliceDepartment,andwouldlikeyoutosharewithusyourplans
toworktowardsthissharedgoalofbetterrelations.
1.Werequestformalandpublicaffirmationandownershipoftheresponsibilityofthecityto
dedicatetheirresourcestoseekoutsolutionsasanaturalextensionoftheirservicetous,
theirconstituents.Whilewillingtoassistandofferourideas,webelievetheonusisonthe
citytoensurethisisactivelyandrigorouslypursued.

2.Wefeeleverycommunitywouldbebetterservedbyofficerswholiveinthesame
communityandhaveknowledgeabouttheareaoutsideofwhattheydealwithintheir
policecapacities.Tomakethismoreofareality,wewouldliketoseethefollowing
explored:

a.Geographicallycenteredhiringincentives(withemphasisplacedonhiringfrom
residentsofSouthCentralElkhart,asitcurrentlylacksrepresentationonthepolice
department).

b.CommunityOrientedpolicingmodelswithofficersresidingtheyserve

c.Discussionsaboutwhatcanbedonetohaveofficerrepresentationmoreclosely
mirrortheethnic/socioeconomicdiversityofthecommunitiestheyserve

3.Ethnicsensitivityanddiversitytrainingforallofficerstoassistthosewhoarenotfroma
particularcommunitybetterunderstandthehistoryandculturesofthosetheyserveand
protect.Werequestthatthistrainingbecomearegularpartoftrainingsessions.

4.AstandardizedandpublicizedCodeofConductwhichallcitizenscanreadilyaccessso
theyknowtheprofessionalstandardsandconducttoexpectwheninterfacingwithour
officers.

5.Asafeguardpolicytopreventfurtherspikesinpatrolling,similartothosethatoccurred
ontheweekendofJuly4
th
,2014intheGarfieldAvenuearea.

6.Afullandpublicreviewandinvestigationintotheallegedmisconductofofficersinthe
GarfieldAvenueareafollowingtheassaultofCorporalDustinYoung.

7.Fullimplementationofonofficervideocameras,suchastheTaserAXON.These
camerasassistinevidencegatheringforprosecution,andkeepallpartiesaccountable
andhonest.ArandomizedcontrolstudydoneinRialto,CaliforniabythePoliceFoundation
hasshownan88%decreaseinpolicecomplaints,anda60%decreaseinuseofforce.
(http://www.policefoundation.org/sites/g/files/g798246/f/201303/The%20Effect%20of%20
BodyWorn%20Cameras%20on%20Police%20UseofForce.pdf)

Sincerely,
TheElkhartCommunityRoundtableActionCommittee