Mayor Lyda Krewson says the Ferguson Commission Report is ‘our path forward’

In the wake of the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown, the Ferguson Commission—a 16-member group appointed by then-Governor Jay Nixon—spent hours talking to the community, examining “social and economic conditions that impede progress, equality and safety.” The resulting 204-page report, published in October 2015, included a laundry list of calls to action, from education to employment, transportation to medical care, the justice system to housing.

“This report is not an ending,” noted the commission, “but a beginning.”

Nearly two years later, following protests over the acquittal of former police officer Jason Stockley in the 2011 fatal shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith, Mayor Lyda Krewson released a statement endorsing the Ferguson Commission Report.

“We must remember that as a region, we’ve been here before,” she wrote. “And thousands of St. Louisans came together to produce the Ferguson Commission Report, which we must now recognize is still our path forward.”

Krewson wrote that she agrees with the report’s calls to action about changing how use-of-force cases are handled, strengthening the city’s civilian oversight board, and developing police standards with both law enforcement and the community. “I also challenge St. Louis to double-down on the Ferguson Commission Report,” she wrote. “If you haven’t read it, please do.”

We did just that. Here are five of the most prescient suggestions.

1. Respond to protests with a proportional response and improve the lines of communication.

The commission noted that the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation discovered “inconsistencies across law enforcement’s response to the Ferguson protests,” including cases of excessive use of force, violations of constitutional rights, and use of military-style weapons and gear. The report suggested developing a comprehensive demonstration response plan that would “prioritize the preservation of human life, honoring the principles of community-based policing, and protecting the human and constitutional rights of all citizens who wish to exercise their right to protest.”

One way to improve law enforcement’s response to demonstrations, the report suggested, would be to establish communication protocol—for instance, designating a police liaison or tactical command person to talk to protest organizers and “keep the lines of communication open throughout the duration of the event.” Training for incidents requiring multiple law enforcement agencies and implementing that training statewide was another suggestion.

The report recommended designating credentialed media as press, “allowing them to freely perform their constitutional duties without threat of arrest.” Since the Stockley protests began six days ago, law enforcement has faced scrutiny for its response, including the arrest of St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Mike Faulk on Sunday. According to the Post, Faulk was “‘forcefully pushed to the ground by police officers and a police officer’s boot was placed on his head.’ After his wrists were bound with zip ties, a police officer ‘deliberately sprayed him in the face with pepper spray, mace or some other stinging substance.’”

2. Decrease use of force through revised policies.

“When citizens are treated with more force than their actions merit, then their rights have been violated,” noted the commission. To combat this, it suggested implementing revised policies and training that would allow all citizens, especially minorities, to be treated with “fundamental fairness” and that would “prioritize de-escalation and tactical withdrawal.”

Minimizing the use of militarized weapons and “encouraging appropriate use of technology in citizen-law enforcement interactions,” such as body cameras and “weaponry that utilize the least amount of force necessary so as to reduce the number of fatal police interventions,” was recommended. (On Wednesday, the St. Louis Board of Estimate and Apportionment approved a proposal to outfit police officers with body cameras at no charge for one year.)

Another revision the commission suggested was to update the use-of-force statute for fleeing suspects to reflect the decision made in Tennessee v. Garner, in which the court held that police officers should not use deadly force against a fleeing suspect just to prevent the suspect’s escape—unless the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a threat of death or serious injury to the officer and others. (The Post reports that St. Louis police have fatally shot eight people so far this year—the highest number of fatal police shootings in a decade—though all of those people were armed and most pointed a gun at officers, police told the Post.)

The report also suggested appointing the attorney general as a special prosecutor (and a special prosecutor in the interim) in use-of-force cases “resulting in death, officer-involved shootings resulting in injury or death, or in-custody deaths.” It recommended assigning the Missouri Highway Patrol (and task forces comprised of diverse and experienced investigators in the interim) to investigate such cases. A use-of-force database, the report noted, could include a complaint log, with a regular audit of complaints and insightful metrics to identify trends.

3. Build community trust through civilian oversight and community policing.

During a town hall meeting about the selection of the next St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department chief yesterday, some citizens expressed concerns about police-community relations. “There is no reason why I should feel like I can’t call 9-1-1,” said Ciera Simril. “But I do. I feel it in my heart.”

One possible solution is community policing, the report noted. The commission suggested engaging civilians in police operations and seeking input on programs and policies, as well as finding ways to build trust between police and youth, such as reformed juvenile strategies and more school visits.

Another suggestion to increase accountability and build trust was creating civilian oversight boards at municipal and county levels, which would have the power to “review non-confidential police data and engage in regular meetings with police upper management to advise them on policies and practices.” These boards could investigate possible criminal wrongdoings by officers and “handle serious incidents swiftly, opening, and neutrally.” (On Monday, during demonstrations downtown, protesters demanded the creation of a civilian oversight board with more power and independence. While the city does have a civilian review board, it does not have subpoena power or the ability for citizens to assign its members; the county does not have a civilian review board.)

4. Improve officer training.

The commission urged police to find ways of “strengthening anti-bias and cultural competency,” with training about racial profiling, implicit bias, fair and impartial policing, cultural and religious responsiveness, and concerns related to specific groups, such as the LGBTQ community and citizens with mental illness. More funding and increased training hours, as well as consolidating police training centers, were suggested.

“The realities of policing today require a transformative approach to training,” the commission wrote. “Our law enforcement officers need the executive-level relationship and communications training that supports their ability to build relationships with, communicate well with, and respect the communities that they serve.”

5. Promote officer wellness.

“A study of an urban police department suggests that a police officer’s work environment, which includes exposure to potentially traumatic experiences, coupled with a police environment that values stoicism and self-reliance, can prove detrimental to an officer’s mental health,” the report noted. “This environment also can contribute to at-work productivity loss, high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide and depression, and an impaired ability to effectively enforce the law and interact with community members.”

In order to promote officer wellness, the commission suggested providing mental-health services for officers, implementing regular mental and physical fitness checks and nutritional support, conducting peer reviews of critical incidents, and requiring psychological and bias screenings. “To support officer well-being and help officers manage the daily stress of policing, training and ongoing support must attend to the mental and physical wellness of officers,” the report noted. “Ensuring physically and mentally strong officers helps secure public safety and ensure neighborhoods are patrolled by healthy personnel.”

Read the Ferguson Commission’s report in its entirety here.