Attorney General Eric Holder
Many Americans were shocked by the images of police clad in military gear firing tear gas and other projectiles at demonstrators during the August protests in Ferguson, Mo. following the shooting death of unarmed Black teenager Michael Brown at the hands of White police officer Darren Wilson.
Several days before the Ferguson grand jury decided not to indict Wilson on criminal charges in Brown’s killing, the U.S. Dept. of Justice released a resource guide for police departments on how to improve police-community relations as well as protect constitutional rights including peaceable assembly.
The resource guide, prepared by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, provides a list of training resources and programs as well as published guidance on improving relations between police and community members, with a particular focus on communities of color.
The Nov. 21 release of the “Resource Guide for Enhancing Community Relationships and Protecting Privacy and Constitutional Rights” was accompanied by a video from Attorney General Eric Holder.
In the video, Holder alludes to the Ferguson protests, saying, “The Justice Department encourages law enforcement officials, in every jurisdiction, to work with the communities that they serve to minimize needless confrontation. It is vital to engage in planning and preparation, from evaluating protocols and training to choosing the appropriate equipment and uniforms. Now, this is the hard work that is necessary to preserve the peace and maintain the public trust at all times—particularly in moments of heightened community tension.”
The Ferguson grand jury’s decision on Nov. 24 not to indict Darren Wilson triggered a night of renewed tensions between protesters and local police, including the torching of police vehicles and local businesses.
ralejandro@afro.com