Brian Catlett Update
Board Member Profile
From the Chairman
The International Association of Chiefs of Police has called for a national commission to examine the state of law enforcement and conduct a comprehensive review of law enforcement and the administration fo justice in the United States. It is a sad commentary that a major law enforcement organization recognizes the need for such a commission, but it is clearly understandable considering the problems facing the average police force and officer on the beat.
The purpose behind the commission would be not only ot improve law enforcement, but, more importantly, to restore a level of confidence following a decade or more of serious problems and failures and perceived failures in the system.
A major problem has been a total misunderstanding of the use of fore by officers whose lives are in danger. Starting with the Rodney King case, LELDF has supported a number of officers whose lives and careers have been destroyed or changed forever when they used force in the line of duty.
Ibe if the issues that we think the proposed commission should consider is the use of force. At LELDF we are in the porcess of developing a new video production as a follow-up to "The Rodney King Incident, Race & Justice In America." Many of you have seen the "Rodney king Incident" (if not, we still have a few copies left for a donation of just $50). Our plan is to take one step further and examine in-depth the timely issue of the "use of force." This concept has been almost totally misunderstood and, as I'm sure you know, the media coverage more often than not tends to distort the truth.
Likewise recent cases have raised the issue of so-called "racial profiling" in a context which assumes that it exists in most police forces, when the opposite is true. Criminal profiling, however, is a necessary part of good police work and race may be only one part of such a profile. No police force tolerates racial profiling and discrimination, and all condemn it. So why does it receive such broad media coverage?
In our new, ground-breaking video, we plan to provide strightforward analysis-and sensible answers-by legal, academic, political and police experts to these and other issues facing law enforcement in America.
Over the last few years the supervision of local police departments by the U.S. Department of Justice has been escalating due to alleged racial and discriminatory tactics. Most police departments have adopted a non- discriminatory policy and implement appropriate training and supervision. Even so, aggressive tactics by police will usually bring close scrutiny.
We will be updating you soon regarding our exciting new effort to enlighten the public on issues of importance to you and to law enforcement nationwide. As always we are most grateful for your past support. Please feel free to contact me at www.leldf.org if you have any questions or know of an officer who needs our assistance.
Sincerely, David H. Martin
From the Chairman
The International Association of Chiefs of Police has called for a national commission to examine the state of law enforcement and conduct a comprehensive review of law enforcement and the administration fo justice in the United States. It is a sad commentary that a major law enforcement organization recognizes the need for such a commission, but it is clearly understandable considering the problems facing the average police force and officer on the beat.
The purpose behind the commission would be not only ot improve law enforcement, but, more importantly, to restore a level of confidence following a decade or more of serious problems and failures and perceived failures in the system.
A major problem has been a total misunderstanding of the use of fore by officers whose lives are in danger. Starting with the Rodney King case, LELDF has supported a number of officers whose lives and careers have been destroyed or changed forever when they used force in the line of duty.
Ibe if the issues that we think the proposed commission should consider is the use of force. At LELDF we are in the porcess of developing a new video production as a follow-up to "The Rodney King Incident, Race & Justice In America." Many of you have seen the "Rodney king Incident" (if not, we still have a few copies left for a donation of just $50). Our plan is to take one step further and examine in-depth the timely issue of the "use of force." This concept has been almost totally misunderstood and, as I'm sure you know, the media coverage more often than not tends to distort the truth.
Likewise recent cases have raised the issue of so-called "racial profiling" in a context which assumes that it exists in most police forces, when the opposite is true. Criminal profiling, however, is a necessary part of good police work and race may be only one part of such a profile. No police force tolerates racial profiling and discrimination, and all condemn it. So why does it receive such broad media coverage?
In our new, ground-breaking video, we plan to provide strightforward analysis-and sensible answers-by legal, academic, political and police experts to these and other issues facing law enforcement in America.
Over the last few years the supervision of local police departments by the U.S. Department of Justice has been escalating due to alleged racial and discriminatory tactics. Most police departments have adopted a non- discriminatory policy and implement appropriate training and supervision. Even so, aggressive tactics by police will usually bring close scrutiny.
We will be updating you soon regarding our exciting new effort to enlighten the public on issues of importance to you and to law enforcement nationwide. As always we are most grateful for your past support. Please feel free to contact me at www.leldf.org if you have any questions or know of an officer who needs our assistance. Sincerely, David H. Martin
