Statement from the Duluth Area Green Party,
February 15th, 2006

After careful consideration, the Duluth Area Green Party joins with others in our community in recommending the creation of a civilian review board in the city of Duluth empowered to independently investigate citizen complaints or concerns regarding actions by members of the city police department. We believe that an independent civilian review board will build trust between the police and the community by ensuring that complaints against the police receive a fair, thorough, and independent hearing.

We entrust members of the police department with a range of powers up to and including the use of lethal force. We, as citizens, have an obligation to ensure these this powers are exercised responsibly. While we have no doubt that members of our police department generally strive to act in a professional and responsible manner, when questions do arise regarding police conduct (as they have in the recent David Croud case), the public needs to know that such questions will receive a full and thorough hearing. An independent civilian review board is a well established mechanism employed in many cities around the United States to ensure that complaints and concerns regarding the actions of law enforcement receive a fair, thorough, and independent hearing.

We recognize that the creation of an independent civilian review board will require a period of adjustment for citizens, public officials, and members of the law enforcement community. Nevertheless, we believe that the creation of such a board will serve the long-term interest of the community by maintaining and enhancing the level of trust between citizens and law enforcement.