Title
Calling on the City of Philadelphia to implement minimum force training for all law enforcement officers.
Body
WHEREAS, Minimum force training provides law enforcement officers with the physical skills and mental perspective to use no force or the least amount of force required when faced with a confrontation under stress; and
WHEREAS, Minimum force training is a valuable tool for law enforcement officers and civilians alike; and
WHEREAS, Police use of force and training protocols are particularly salient following high profile incidents of overly aggressive, officer-involved confrontations, and unintended shootings; and
WHEREAS, As a result of George Floyd’s death, there is a national push to reform laws and protocols pertaining to police conduct and liability; and
WHEREAS, Some of these efforts are questionable and may result in unintended consequences that increase crime and injury; and
WHEREAS, Minimum force training can reduce the number of these tragedies by balancing lethal force responses with more appropriate responses based upon the circumstance; and
WHEREAS, Law enforcement officials in neighboring Bucks and Delaware counties have already begun exploring the implementation of minimum force training as a component of its mandatory police officer training; and
WHEREAS, In the best interest of its officers and the public, the Philadelphia Police Department should implement minimum force training to complement traditional, lethal force training; and
WHEREAS, In order to implement minimum force training, the City will need to establish a training program for the Police Department, establish parameters for how officers will be expected to complete the training, and define administrative regulations for receiving compensatory time or other reimbursements for completing the training; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADEPLHIA, That it herby calls on the City of Philadelphia to implement minimum force training for all law enforcement officers.
End