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CC 2020-06-23_6b Supplemental No 1MEMORANDUM TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: JESSICA MATSON, DEPUTY CITY CLERK SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AGENDA ITEM 6b – JUNE 23, 2020 CITY COUNCIL MEETING PRESENTATION BY ARROYO GRANDE POLICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND TRAINING PROGRAM D ATE: JUNE 22, 2020 Attached is correspondence received. cc: Acting City Manager Police Chief City Attorney City Clerk City Website (or public review binder) From: Kara Hitchcock < Date: June 15, 2020 at 2:06:31 PM PDT To: Keith Storton <kstorton@arroyogrande.org> Subject: End police violence and reimagine public safety Dear Council Member Storton, As a person of faith, I believe police violence and brutality against black men and women must end now, particularly in light of the tragic and senseless recent killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many others. Police violence and systemic racial injustice is tied to America’s original sin of racism and the abhorrent legacy of white supremacy. The time for bold reforms that ensure equal justice under the law extends to everyone is now. As your constituent and a person of faith, I am asking you to do away with policies that lead to the unequal treatment of and violence against black, Indigenous, and people of color and adopt reforms drawn from evidence-based recommendations in the Task Force on 21st Century Policing Report, Campaign Zero, and more. Specifically, we call on mayors, local officials, and local police precincts to: Ban chokeholds and neck restraints in all cases Require officers to de-escalate situations when possible, eliminating or reducing the need to use force Require officers to give a verbal warning before shooting Require officers to exhaust all other alternatives, including non-force and less-lethal force options prior to resorting to deadly force Ban shooting at moving vehicles Require officers to intervene and stop the use of excessive force by other officers Establish a use of force continuum that restricts the most severe types of force Require officers to report each time they use force or threaten to use force against civilians. Every city should adopt these policies immediately. Furthermore, we call on you to begin the process now to reimagine public safety by reinvesting city budgets in programs that expand and enhance restorative justice programs, provide alternatives to incarceration, demilitarize the police, provide crisis intervention and de-escalation training, increase community engagement, and expand holistic collaborative services. The time is now to finally fix this broken system, locally and nationally. Sincerely, Kara Hitchcock Arroyo Grande, CA 934201807 Links contained in this email have been replaced. If you click on a link in the email above, the link will be analyzed for known threats. If a known threat is found, you will not be able to proceed to the destination. If suspicious content is detected, you will see a warning. From:Raleigh Delk To:public comment Subject:Tuesday 6/23 Meeting: Item 6b Date:Monday, June 22, 2020 12:02:19 PM I'm Raleigh from Los Osos and I'm asking the Arroyo Grande Police Department to address and respond to the demands of R.A.C.E. Matters SLO. These potential improvements include the reallocating funds from the police department to local mental health services and nonprofits. Additionally, the city council could adopt a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis as San Luis Obispo has done. For more information, refer to https://link.edgepilot.com/s/24f86cc3/UlVoHCr9p0qezScRM9koqg? u=https://www.racemattersslo.org/ and connect and collaborate with other organizations in your city who work on diversity, inclusion, equity, and racial justice. Regardless of the degree of racism in Arroyo Grande and SLO County as a whole, such changes could benefit everyone in the community and set an example for the rest of the state and the country. Learn more about the data-driven studies behind these demands at https://link.edgepilot.com/s/b1511a19/O8ud66nySkKgp7daOraARA? u=https://www.joincampaignzero.org/ Sincerely, Raleigh Links contained in this email have been replaced. If you click on a link in the email above, the link will be analyzed for known threats. If a known threat is found, you will not be able to proceed to the destination. If suspicious content is detected, you will see a warning. From:Sophie Stebbins To:public comment Subject:Board meeting public comments regarding Item 6b and 6d Date:Monday, June 22, 2020 1:46:57 PM Hello, I am writing to demand that Arroyo Grande city council hears the voices and demands of our Black community. I am asking that the city council: - Supports R.A.C.E Matters’ (SLO) demands in their jurisdiction. - Adopts a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis. - Connects and collaborates with organizations who work on diversity, inclusion, equity, and/or racial justice. I ask that you seriously consider a drastic revision and reform of your Police Department trainings and procedures, with an ultimate goal to reallocate funds from the PD to community interests, housing, non profits, etc. I also ask that you recognize Juneteenth Day as a holiday. The citizens of SLO county are asking for a response and swift action regarding racial justice. Thank you, Sophie Stebbins