Too Little, Too Late — Latest Legislation to Reform Policing Doesn’t Go Far Enough

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 9, 2020

Two weeks after the murder of George  Floyd by Minneapolis police, Senator Booker and other Democratic Party Senators and Representatives are rolling out a bill that is supposed to revolutionize policing in ways that the legislators believe will address the public’s concerns.

But early returns are mixed at best.

The Hoffman for Senate 2020 campaign has serious doubts that this reform package will actually address the public’s concerns about the police.

Victor Monterrosa, Jr., Newark resident and attorney said, “A decade of police misconduct took place under then Mayor Booker’s watch. Nine of every ten interactions between police and civilians were unconstitutional. It was the Booker administration that set off red flags for the Department of Justice, leading to the consent decree and federal monitoring that is costing Newark millions. Then Newark Mayor Booker also allowed the New York Police Department (NYPD)  to surveil Muslim groups in Newark. Together then Mayor Booker and the NYPD mapped out everything for this program in a detailed, hyper local dossier. Then Mayor Booker idly watched Essex County contract with the feds to use the Newark jail as a detention center. Police reform is not the answer; the key is to eliminate the root cause of crime, like poverty and racism.”

“Senator Booker, we are glad that you and other elected officials are hearing the very loud and focused voices from all around the country to defund the police and spend some of the money spent on policing for programs that address community needs.  The latest policy proposal shows that you and others felt a need to respond.  But the people need more than police reform,” said Madelyn Hoffman, Green Party of New Jersey candidate for U.S. Senate. “We must replace the police force with a holistic program of social workers, healthcare professionals, and affordable housing, and more recreation and employment services. This will enable our communities to become healthy and sustainable.”

According to InjusticeWatch, Garry McCarthy, the man hired by then Newark Mayor Cory Booker, to direct the Newark Police Department, presided over a police department from 2006-2011 that had a long list of complaints against it for use of excessive force. That same Garry McCarthy was hired by the City of Chicago and was embroiled in the middle of the Laquan McDonald situation.

Added Victor Monterrosa, “Elimination of the doctrine of qualified immunity is too little too late. The people are speaking loud and clear: end policing. Reforming this doctrine will allow poor police conduct to continue. Until the needs of the community are truly met, the protests in the streets are likely to continue. ”