Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall signed an executive order Monday afternoon requiring several changes to Salt Lake City Police Department policies.
The amendments strengthen body-worn camera requirements, reform use of force policy and require stricter rules during searches without warrants. The order directs the police department to implement the reforms by Sept. 5.
The reforms include:
- Requirement for officers to use de-escalation techniques before using force or effecting an arrest, as well as further specifications about how officers must report use of force;
- Duty for officers to intervene when they observe fellow officers about to use force that is illegal, excessive or inconsistent with policy;
- Definition of “necessary” and “imminent” in the department’s deadly force policy;
- Prohibition of deadly force used in situations where officers are trying to prevent someone from self-harm if that person does not pose an immediate threat to officers;
- Requirement that officers get written consent to search vehicles and property without a warrant, or verbal consent if the officers record it with a body camera
- Discipline for officers who fail to activate body cameras or intentionally de-active them.
The full executive order is included below:
Executive Order 5 by The Salt Lake Tribune on Scribd
Although the reforms came as an executive order from the mayor’s office, Mendenhall said she worked closely with the police department during their development.
“They were intrinsically involved,” Mendenhall said at a press conference announcing her directive. “It doesn’t do any good for a mayor to come out and issue orders of policing policy change without working with the police department to understand what those impacts will be.”
Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said the city looked at “model polices” from around the nation as they developed the reforms.
“Some of these policy revisions reflect national best practices,” he said. “Others will be seen as a new gold standard of policing with Salt Lake City Police Department leading the way.”
The police chief said change and evolution was a “pillar” of the department’s training. He became emotional as he described officers’ commitment to best policing practices.
“We are an outstanding organization,” he said. “I challenge anyone to do it better than Salt Lake City Police Department.”
This story will be updated.
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/3k5LViJ
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