Many law enforcement officers carry out their public safety duties in ways that build trust with the public and their fellow officers. Conversely, some have been found to have violated policies and the law which can lead to an atmosphere of public distrust. Unlike other professions where disciplinary actions are public information (e.g., doctors, lawyers, etc.), police misconduct and termination records are often obscured by the law or can be difficult to access due to decentralized data at the local, state, and federal levels. In addition, police contracts often provide blanket protections and can limit accountability. These issues provide opportunities for officers disciplined or fired for misconduct to find work in other jurisdictions where hiring law enforcement executives or community members are unaware of their history. In addition, police misconduct settlements can have a cost to society and possibly deprive communities of millions of investment dollars.

• Black Americans, 16 years or older, experience interactions with law enforcement at a rate 50% higher than their share of the population and are therefore more likely to be impacted by police misconduct.^[1]
• Compared to white Americans, Black Americans were three times more likely (6% vs 2%) to experience the threat of force or use of nonfatal force during their most recent police contact in 2020. ^[2]
• Over the past 10 years, the 30 cities with the highest police-to-civilian ratios in America have spent more than $3 billion on police misconduct settlements. ^[3]

Law enforcement officer (LEO) accountability databases have emerged as a potential solution to address these issues by increasing transparency and accountability in policing, which can foster trust between law enforcement and the community.

CEO Action for Racial Equity is committed to advocating for the advancement of racial equity and enhancing public safety by promoting transparency and accountability through the implementation of LEO accountability databases. Learn more in our published report, “Advancing Transparency and Accountability: A framework for a Law Enforcement Accountability Database”.

We support and advocate for bipartisan legislation that advances transparent systems where law enforcement agencies can focus on hiring and retaining top individuals, repair harm, and help foster trust in the communities most impacted by police misconduct. It is through open dialogue, collaboration, and a commitment to address systemic racism and social injustice that we can cultivate a system that respects the rights and dignity of all Americans while maintaining the necessary public safety for our communities.

^[1] Susannah N Tapp and Elizabeth J Davis, “Contacts between Police and the Public, 2020 – Bureau of Justice Statistics,” Publications and Products, November 2022, https://bjs.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh236/files/media/document/cbpp20.pdf.
^[2] Ibid.
^[3] Amelia Thomson-Devaux, Laura Bronner, and Damini Sharma, “Police Misconduct Costs Cities Millions Every Year. but That’s Where the Accountability Ends.,” The Marshall Project, February 22, 2021, https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/02/22/police-misconduct-costs-cities-millions-every-year-but-that-s-where-the-accountability-ends.