Gary: What is the primary purpose of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Officers? Wilson: Our overall mission is to be an interface between law enforcement and the community. We serve as a buffer...if you will... and reading directly from our mission statement...we are an organization that represents the needs and concerns of law enforcement officers of color. We are watchful of the issues that have a direct impact...both adverse and positive... on the employment, promotion, and retention of minority law enforcement officers and other justice practitioners. We are dedicated to enhancing and empowering the minority community. We are dedicated to eradicating police abuse and misconduct... no matter where it exists...and we take great pride in the empowerment of our communities politically, economically, and educationally... because we recognize that a strong community is a wise one, when it strives to agree. Celeste: What is the spectrum of membership of your organization, by race and sex? Wilson: Now that is kind of a hard question for me to answer. We have approximately 9,000 members across the country. Most of my membership is in the Northeast area of the country...Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. We also have members in Illinois, Colorado, Tennessee, California, Louisiana, Georgia, and Washington, D.C. They are primarily African American law enforcement officers...either retired or active service. They are municipal...they are federal...they are state...they are campus...and they are correctional officers. They are all very strong-minded men and women who remember who we are...where we came from and why we do what we do. Ethnically...we are principally African American, but we have a number of Latino members...several Afro-Asian members...and as quiet as it has been kept, we’ve got one or two White members. Gary: What is your plan for upscaling the accountability for the misuse of police action within communities of color? Wilson: I think that is noted... principally...in a number of our position statements. On the 29th of June...we issued our national statement supporting police reform. What that entails...is that we are calling for the condemnation of racial profiling and excessive use of force. we are an organization that represents the needs and concerns of law enforcement officers of color. We are asking for the recognition of the sanctity of human life... and de-escalation in all use of force policies. We are asking for the increased mandatory use of bodyworn cameras...comprehensive standardized legislation starting an investigation of a police use of force. We are requesting, and mandating, the adoption of community policing philosophies across the board... which includes the increased hiring, promotion, and retention of officers of color. We are advocating for the universal elimination of the use of chokeholds...a universally legislated duty to intervene, and a creation of a national database for officers who have been decertified...fired...or found to be untruthful. That is what NABLEO stands for. Celeste: Do you have any additional thoughts that you would like to share with our readership? Wilson: We are constantly looking for new members...both individuals and new chapters. Membership is available online through our website at nableo.org. We are constantly looking for new sponsors for our various programs. We are constantly looking for agencies...across the board... that are willing to buy into these philosophies that we put in place. People have to recognize that the institution of policing is inherently biased against people of color...and low-income...and it was designed to be that way. So, we stress to our counterparts... that they must understand, and accept that, as their history...and work forward from there. It does not matter what the current administration and their followers wanted...there is in fact... systemic racism in law enforcement. Everybody has to accept that understanding and go forward from there. Celeste and Gary: Thank you for the interview. The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2020 27
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