Boise already follows ’8 Can’t Wait’ police reform suggestions, acting chief says
As a national debate on police reform continues amid nationwide protests, Boise’s acting police chief says the city already follows the policies suggested by one of the most prominent campaigns dedicated to change.
Acting Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar told the Boise City Council on Tuesday that BPD follows the eight recommendations from a campaign known as “8 Can’t Wait,” a project of police reform advocacy group Campaign Zero. It has gained attention because of the demonstrations against police brutality after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
The suggested policies are meant to limit police use of force by tailoring what is acceptable for an officer to do in an emergency situation.
The policies
- Require that officers de-escalate situations when possible, eliminating the need for force
- Require officers to give a verbal warning when possible before shooting
- Require officers to exhaust all less-lethal alternatives before shooting
- Create a “force continuum” that establishes a maximum amount of force allowed based on the specific situation an officer is in
- Require officers to report when they use force
- Ban shooting at moving vehicles
- Require officers to intervene and report when other officers are using excessive force
- Ban chokeholds and strangleholds
“Deadly force is always a last resort for us,” Winegar said.
He gave the presentation as part of what Mayor Lauren McLean called “many conversations” the city would have about policing and BPD policies. Winegar said the department is reviewing its policy manuals and sourcing best practices from around the country.
McLean also said new Police Chief Ryan Lee, who starts July 1, would be reviewing department policies further. Lee told reporters last week that he planned to take “a comprehensive look” at the training already in place and make adjustments if necessary.
‘We can do better’
Winegar said that amid the protests, which have taken place in Boise as well, he understands there have been “many good reasons for people to be upset.”
“Absolutely there are things we can do to be better,” Winegar said. “We look forward to that.”
The “8 Can’t Wait” campaign was criticized by some for not going far enough when it burned through social media in the wake of Floyd’s death, but it is considered by organizers to be just part of a larger effort to reform and ultimately even defund police departments.
McLean and Lee said last week that they were not in support of “defunding” the Boise Police Department. McLean said she was “in full support” of BPD, while Lee said departments “need to be mindful and deliberate about who we’re bringing in to the organization.”
Speaking Tuesday night, no members of the council mentioned any support of defunding the police department. Instead, officials said they wanted to use the session as an opportunity to inform the public. Several council members said they had heard from constituents who had questions about the department’s policies.
“I think it’s really important that we all get on the same page about the current state of the Boise Police Department and the current state of safety in our city, so that we can together decide how we want to move forward to ensure the safety of all of our citizens,” Council Pro Tem Holli Woodings said.
This story was originally published June 16, 2020 at 8:33 PM.
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