BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKS OUT ON THE SHOOTING OF TERRANCE CRUTCHER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dated: Thursday September 22, 2016
The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, a 501.c.3 non-profit, is a premier national organization representing the interests and concerns of African American, Latino and other criminal justice practitioners of color serving in law enforcement, corrections, and investigative agencies throughout the United States, and the communities in which they serve.
As a body of law enforcement professionals we wish to express our dismay at the actions of members of the Tulsa, Oklahoma Police Department as they pertain to the recent shooting death of Mr. Terrance Crutcher. The actions and behaviors of the officers involved in this incident were not only abhorrent and inhumane, but all current evidence would appear to indicate they exceeded far beyond any reasonable need for the use of deadly force.
We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the Crutcher family that they will know, without uncertainty, that these actions are not condoned as they do not reflect the high standards and expectations of our profession. We, as well, join with them in demanding a full, unbiased and transparent investigation of this matter.
As law enforcement officers, we recognize the distrust that is often felt towards those whose job it is to protect the community. Yet we also recognize its root causes. It is caused by a disconnect between police and community. It is founded in the beliefs of a few who have a disregard for human life, evidenced by allowing Mr. Crutcher to lay in the street for nearly two minutes before making any attempts to provide medical attention. It is caused by the continued perceptions and stereotypes that all young black men are, and must therefore be, involved in criminal activity. And it is caused by a failure to remember and recognize that in every community policing initiative, COMMUNITY COMES FIRST!
While recognizing the stellar work that is practiced by the majority of the more than 800,000 law enforcement officers throughout the nation, the Board of Directors and Membership of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers simply cannot condone the actions of those involved in this incident and cannot find it within our conscience to associate with them.
The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc, a 501.(c).(3) non-profit, is a premier national organization representing the interests and concerns of African American, Latino and other criminal justice practitioners of color serving in law enforcement, corrections, and investigative agencies throughout the United States, and the communities in which they serve.
