Blue Owl Brewing
We’ll Be Watching
RECEIVED Fri., June 5, 2020
Dear Mayor Adler,
I am writing today to urge you to speak out clearly and take action to begin to redress our country’s 400-year history of racial violence and oppression.
In addition to the condemning the recent excessive use of force by APD during peaceful protests and its continued history of violence against persons of color, you must publicly recognize the fundamental role that police and the criminal justice system have played in this history of oppression and systemic racism. Unfortunately the Austin Police Department continues to play that role today!
At a minimum I would expect you as an elected official of “progressive” Austin to do the following:
• Take the Obama.org pledge to address police use of force policies
• Support the common sense recommendations of the Police Use of Force Project:
• Require officers to de-escalate situations before resorting to force
• Limit the kinds of force that can be used to respond to specific forms of resistance
• Restrict chokeholds
• Require officers to give verbal warning before using force
• Prohibit officers from shooting at moving vehicles
• Require officers to exhaust all alternatives to deadly force
• Require officers to stop colleagues from exercising excessive force
• Require comprehensive reporting on use of force
• Freeze all increases in spending on additional equipment for APD – (they need commitment to community policing not additional military equipment)
• Stand up to the Police Officers Organization, which refuses to accept civilian oversight and accountability. The citizens of Austin will support you!
Like many thousands of Austin voters, I will be watching your responses and actions to this issue of police use of violence and continued racism. We will not be able to vote for any current politicians, bond issues, or approve any tax increases UNTIL our government begins to take actions to end systemic racism in our city and especially our police department.
I am writing today to urge you to speak out clearly and take action to begin to redress our country’s 400-year history of racial violence and oppression.
In addition to the condemning the recent excessive use of force by APD during peaceful protests and its continued history of violence against persons of color, you must publicly recognize the fundamental role that police and the criminal justice system have played in this history of oppression and systemic racism. Unfortunately the Austin Police Department continues to play that role today!
At a minimum I would expect you as an elected official of “progressive” Austin to do the following:
• Take the Obama.org pledge to address police use of force policies
• Support the common sense recommendations of the Police Use of Force Project:
• Require officers to de-escalate situations before resorting to force
• Limit the kinds of force that can be used to respond to specific forms of resistance
• Restrict chokeholds
• Require officers to give verbal warning before using force
• Prohibit officers from shooting at moving vehicles
• Require officers to exhaust all alternatives to deadly force
• Require officers to stop colleagues from exercising excessive force
• Require comprehensive reporting on use of force
• Freeze all increases in spending on additional equipment for APD – (they need commitment to community policing not additional military equipment)
• Stand up to the Police Officers Organization, which refuses to accept civilian oversight and accountability. The citizens of Austin will support you!
Like many thousands of Austin voters, I will be watching your responses and actions to this issue of police use of violence and continued racism. We will not be able to vote for any current politicians, bond issues, or approve any tax increases UNTIL our government begins to take actions to end systemic racism in our city and especially our police department.
Sincerely,
Stephen Dock
Stephen Dock
