Re-Examing the White Plains Police Department Report, 2012

7/29/2019 Re-Examing the White Plains Police Department Report, 2012

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A Critique of the "White Plains Police Department's 2012 Report" Presented to Damon Jones, Black Law Enforce in America, BLEA; Submitted by

Jimmy Bell, Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology, Jackson State University, 11-05-2012.

RE-EXAMING THE WHITE PLAINS POLICE DEPARTMENT 2012

REPORT: DECONSTRUCTING THE BLUE CODE

OVERVIEW:

The primary focus of this treatise is to realistically re-examine the "White Plains Police

Department's 2012 Report" in the context of the following critical domains; federal

edict, department mission statement, training and procedures, and police officer

behavior:

A) Historical Accuracy

B) Academic Integrity

C) Professional Ethics

1) White Plains Police Department Consent Decree of 1981.

The Consent Decree of 1981 in White Plains, New York is indicative of problems, i.e.,

police brutality, excessive use of force, and varieties of police misconduct facing not

only White Plains but many municipalities across the country. Apparently, such aberrant

police behavior is more closely associated with police/departmental culture than the

most ardent and proficient police training. The research literature is clear that policeoccupational culture takes precedence over police training regarding police practices

and behavior. Additionally, law enforcement in America has a tradition and legacy of

police violence. Indeed, if one were to consider only a cursory review of police

misconduct/corruption in America over the past 100 years one could easily find

compelling evidence of its existence:


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*Lexow Commission (1894), focused on pervasive police corruption in the NYPD.

*Wickerersham Commission (1932), focused on widespread nationwide use of police

brutality.

* Knapp Commission (1972), focused on widespread police corruption in the NYPD.

* Christopher Commission (1998) focused on LAPD police culture that tolerated police

brutality, planting evidence and perjury.

* Mollen Commission (1994) focused on nationwide police culture associated with the

drug market and the strong police subculture encouraging police officers not to rat on

one another, i.e., the code of silence.

2) The White Plains Police Department Mission Statement

The mission statement of the White Plains Police Department of Public Safety states

that its mission is "to provide unbiased comprehensive protection and services to the

residents and visitors of the City of White Plains. The public's safety and the enrichment

of quality of life are paramount, and will be provided by the police and Fire Bureaus with

professionalism, integrity and respect". Inarguably, there are sometimes differences

between a police department's stated words (mission) and police officers actions

(behavior). It should be apparently clear, even to the uninitiated, that theemergency/police tapes detailing the audio communications between the police and the

resident are transparent and distinct. In essence, the tapes clearly revealed that the

White Plains police acted with reckless abandonment and demonstrated a chilling

disregard for the quality and sanctity of the life of Mr. Kenneth Chamberlain. Indeed,

and at best, the White Plains Police Department violated both their mission statement

and their sacred oath of office by facilitating the death of Mr. Chamberlain.

3) The White Plains Police Department's Emotionally Disturbed Policy

The noticeably absence of a clear cut and concise policy on engaging "EmotionallyDisturbed Persons" in the "Standard Operating Procedures" manual within the White

Plains Police Department is quite instructive. Perhaps this explains the obfuscated

findings and/or renderings by the Mayor's contracted expert review panel. However,

what is crystal clear regarding police training engaging mentally ill individuals, within

the White Plains police department, is that the policy is woefully inadequate or virtually


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To this end, the responses to the following questions should be critically analyzed and

interpreted:

1) Do the White Plains Police Department's (WPPD) engagement policies take into

consideration the effect a person's mental and emotional illness may have on their

ability to understand commands or the consequences of their actions?

2) Do WPPD's engagement policies specify how to de-escalate situation involving

individuals in mental health crisis?

3) Is there a reasonable cause to believe that White Plains police officers are engaged in

a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives persons, mentally ill or otherwise, of

rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the constitution or federal law?

4) Is there a reasonable cause to believe that White Plains police officers employ

practices that escalate the use of force where there were clear earlier junctures when

the use of force could have been avoided or greatly minimized?

5) Are there systemic deficiencies within the WPPD in responding to individuals with

mental illness or in mental health crisis?

6) Are there systemic deficiencies within the WPPD resulting in patterns and practices

with regards to policy, training and supervision in responding to individuals with mental

illness or in mental health crisis?

7) Is there sufficient protocol in place within the WPPD to ensure that police officers are

well suited to effectively deal with people with mental illness?

8) Is a 40 hour crisis intervention training curriculum sufficient to make a specialized

crisis intervention officer an expert in handling mental illness calls?

9) Are there insufficient training, supports, and tools within the WPPD to identify and

engage persons with mental illness and police call for services tracking system?

10) Is there a protocol within the WPPD for selecting police officers as first respondersfor Crisis Intervention Curriculum Training pursuant to engaging Emotionally Disturbed

Persons?


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Re-Examing the White Plains Police Department Report, 2012

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