Welcome to the weekly update from the Campaign to End Qualified Immunity! Here, we give you a wrap-up of the latest developments and notable news as we continue our state-focused fight to abolish the unjust rule.
This week, a Yale professor challenges assumptions about policing and crime; Washington State eyes a bill to end qualified immunity; Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend settles with the city of Louisville; and more!
FEATURED STORY
The New York Times: The Root Cause of Violent Crime Is Not What We Think It Is
“If throwing money at police and prisons made us safer, we would probably already be the safest country in the history of the world. We are not, because insufficient punishment is not the root cause of violence. And if people are talking about how tough they are and how scared you should be, they care more about keeping you scared than keeping you safe.”
Read more here.
NEW YORK
The NYPD has seen the highest number of resignations in two decades as smaller towns across the U.S. have lured officers away with the promise of greater perks, such as better pay. Interestingly, one of these towns is Aurora, in Colorado—a state that eliminated qualified immunity in 2020.
Read more here.
WASHINGTON
In the Evergreen State, the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability has unveiled its top four legislative priorities for 2023. Among them: ending qualified immunity.
Read more here.
ILLINOIS
Chicago news outlets are expressing alarm over Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s decision to restrict the media’s access to police scanner info—a decision that runs counter to “resounding calls for greater transparency in law enforcement.”
Read more here.
ADDITIONAL NEWS
AP News: Breonna Taylor’s Boyfriend Settles Lawsuits Over Shooting
“[Kenneth] Walker’s attorneys said Monday that part of the settlement he received would be used to set up a scholarship fund for law school students interested in practicing civil rights law. Another portion will be contributed to the Center for Innovations in Community Safety, a police and community reform Center at Georgetown Law School.”
Read more here.
ABC News: Officer Who Kneeled on George Floyd’s Back to Be Sentenced
“‘We appreciate very much that [J. Alexander] Kueng plead guilty,’ said prosecutor Matthew Frank at the sentencing. ‘We hope the conclusion of this case reaffirms that peace officers cannot treat citizens in crisis as non-people, or second-class citizens,’ Frank added.”
Read more here.
Reason: California City Pays $300,000 to Marine Veteran Tackled for Filming a Cop From His Porch
“The settlement is yet another in a string of costly excessive force lawsuits against the city of Vallejo. Despite its relatively small size, the Vallejo Police Department has generated a large number of civil rights lawsuits and settlement payouts”
Read more here.
The Grio: The White House Updates on Biden Policing Executive Order and George Floyd Bill
“The White House hopes these steps…will enhance public trust and strengthen public safety, as the President continues to push for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to become law. During the press briefing on Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told The Grio that passing the bill into law remains a priority for the president.”
Read more here.
The Orange County Register: Police Accountability Is Essential for Improving Relations Between Cops and the Public
“According to a June report on the OpenSecrets website, which tracks campaign spending, ‘Police unions and associations have spent over $48 million on state lobbying and contributed almost $71 million to state-level candidates and committees in the last decade alone….’”
Read more here.
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