The event discussed the history of policing, systemic racism and Gascon’s first months as LA’s DA. (Nayeon Ryu | Daily Trojan)
After a summer of protests and discussions about policing in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, the election of Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón — who campaigned as one of the country’s most progressive district attorneys — was a major victory for activists. Gascón promised significant changes to the criminal justice system, including the end of the death penalty in LA, the end of charging children as adults and the end of sentencing enhancements. But during his first few months in office, his policies received significant pushback, primarily from law enforcement officials and prosecutors.
The Lawrence Police Department's headquarters at 5100 Overland Drive is pictured Jan. 11, 2021.
The outside consultant the City of Lawrence hired to study its police department has been gathering input from city and police leaders — and will soon be gathering it from the public. And that feedback could help inform changes to police duties and shape the city’s search for a new police chief.
In the wake of national and local calls for police reform and protests against police killings of Black people and other people of color, the Lawrence City Commission agreed in October to pay Citygate Associates $117,833 for a comprehensive study of the police department and the creation of a new master plan. After an analysis of police policies and data, input from residents and interviews with city leaders and staff, consultants will make recommendations on what could be major changes to the department. That might include shifting duties from police to social service organizations or other agencies.
*LOS ANGELES â Organizers of a conflict resolution training course for sheriff deputies in Los Angeles hope to make de-escalation techniques commonplace within law enforcement.
The course is the product of a unique partnership between the Los Angeles County Sheriffâs Department, the Safe Communities Institute at the University of Southern Californiaâs Sol Price School of Public Policy and the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles.
âWeâre in a war situation right now,â said J. Edgar Boyd, the churchâs pastor and chief executive, âbut weâre planning for peace.â
âLaw enforcement organizations like LAPD, the Sheriffâs Department and CHP [California Highway Patrol]Â are really working hard to place some reforms and some changes that will cause sensitivity to be displayed by officers,â Boyd said. âThis whole process of sensitizing law enforcement is something that is critically needed, not just for the community but for the officers and for the department as a whole.â