TO: Logan.Harvey@sonomacity.org
Dear Mayor Harvey:
Thank you for attending the protest in Sonoma Square yesterday in support of racial justice in Sonoma. You encouraged us to write to you and our other elected officials about the change we want to see in our community.
Data proves that together the following eight policies can decrease police violence by 72%. Currently Sonoma only supports one (requiring warning before shooting). (Source: 8cantwait.org)
Please amend your policy manual to include the following:
Ban Chokeholds & Strangleholds which result in the unnecessary death and serious injury of civilians
- Require Deescalation where possible by communicating with subjects, maintaining distance, and otherwise eliminating the need to use force
Exhaust All Other Means Before Shooting
- Duty to intervene: Require officers to intervene and stop excessive force used by other officers and report these incidents immediately to a supervisor
- Ban shooting at moving vehicles which is regarded as a particularly dangerous and ineffective tactic
- Require use of force continuum that limits the types of force and/or weapons that can be used to respond to specific types of resistance
- Require comprehensive reporting for officers to report each time they use force or threaten to use force against civilians
We can do better. I look forward to hearing how Sonoma is addressing these requests.
Regards,