The Waller County Civilian Commission report is finally out, and you can read it here:
Recommended Police and Jail Practices
We finished our review, and our report! Joined by Hon. Craig Washington, Hon. Morris Overstreet, Juan L. Guerra, Randall Kallinen, and Paul Looney, I spent countless hours trying to help the citizens of Waller County. In an epic move, Sheriff Smith invited us in and gave us unfettered access to his domain: people, places, and practices. We came and went as necessary. We interviewed whomever we wanted. We looked at whatever we chose. And, ultimately, we created 9 recommendations that have the potential to change law enforcement:
- Better screening for mental health and illness
- use of video (Skype or other technology) can provide immediate access to a physician
- additionally, the same video equipment can provide immediate contact with a magistrate to set or review bond or even provide a personal recognizance bond to shorten jail stay
- Police worn body cameras
- develop policies to record and store all police interactions
- Language and demeanor issues
- address use of derogatory language
- eliminate the stigma and treat others with dignity and respect
- Counseling and fitness to serve for officers and jailers
- mental health is just as important as weapon proficency
- New jail facilities
- Booking processes and information sharing
- Digital reporting
- Public information
- Separation between jailing and policing
To be sure, every person in every agency can improve. We only hope our roadmap with some specific improvements can bring about greater respect for both the authorities and the citizens.
While it is sad that it took a suicide to bring change, better that change comes!