Recent high profile cases across the United States of police brutality resulting in the deaths of innocent and unarmed African Americans, with the resulting mass indignation and protests in the streets, has put the spotlight, both domestically and internationally, on racism and law enforcement. In today’s edition of “Interviews from Washington” host Jorge Gestoso talks with Jody Westby, leader of Communities Against Law Enforcement Misconduct (CALM), a new national organization founded just two weeks ago. Westby discusses how her own experience intervening in and video recording a case of police abuse changed her life and propelled her into activism; the inability of the justice system to address the problem of institutionalized misconduct by law enforcement; President Barack Obama’s executive order establishing the Task Force on 21st Century Policing; and the need to mobilize public opinion for a change in policies that enable police brutality and impunity. teleSUR

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-national-organization-formed-to-address-police-misconduct-300080387.html?@#$

News Articles of Interest

Proportionality and use of force

NPR: Are Police Being Taught to Pull the Trigger Too Fast?
July 15, 2016

The New York Times: Looking for Accountability in Police-Involved Deaths of Blacks
July 12, 2016

CNN: Police more likely to use force on blacks than whites, study shows
July 12, 2016

The New York Times: Taser International Dominates the Police Body Camera Market
July 12, 2016

The Wall Street Journal: Louisiana Shooting Highlights Body Camera Issues
July 7, 2016

The Wall Street Journal: Police Shootings– and the Role of Law Enforcement– in a Global Perspective
June 14, 2016

The Kansas City Star: Dashcam video shows excessive force arrest by Independence police
June 6, 2016

NPR: Chicago Releases Videos of Police In Alleged Excessive Force Cases
June 3, 2016

New York Daily News: Washington man gets $100K in settlement for getting punched, Tasered and bit by police dog during 2014 arrest
May 21, 2016

The New York Times: Data on Use of Force by Police Across U.S. Proves Almost Useless
August 11, 2015

CNN: Did police use excessive force? 3 cases in the spotlight
April 10, 2015

Trustworthiness and credibility of police

Bloomberg: Lynch Calls For Stronger ‘Bonds of Trust’ After Dallas Shootings
July 11, 2016

Gallup: In U.S., Confidence in Police Lowest in 22 Years
June 19, 2015

USA Today: Poll: Whites and blacks question police accountability
August 26, 2014

The Atlantic: Video Killed Trust in Police Officers
August 18, 2014

Psychological testing and training of police

NPR: Latest Police Shootings Raise More Questions About Police Training, Tactics
July 9, 2016

The Denver Post: Psych evaluations may be required for all police hires in Colorado
December 13, 2015

The Texas Tribune: Deficient Police Psych Reviews Prompt Revamp
November 5, 2015

GQ: Inside the Mind of an Angry Cop
June 8, 2015