Kankakee, IL – Local law enforcement throughout the county have now signed the Ten Shared Principles established between the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The signing ceremony was held at Kankakee Community College. The shared principles were adopted on March 22, 2018 to help bridge the gap of mistrust between law enforcement and communities of color. The principles have been adopted by 168 police departments in the state of Illinois.

"With the signing of the Shared Principles Declaration by executives of all the police agencies in the County and the Kankakee County Branch of the NAACP, we highlighted our mutual commitment to work together to improve public safety throughout the County while safeguarding everyone's civil liberties,” said Kankakee Police Chief Kosman.

“Many of our officers have stated that they aim to establish trust in the community daily. It’s important to be able to relate to one another. The shared principles are a step in the process of declaring shared values that will build and strengthen relationships in order to keep our communities safe,” said Mayor Wells-Armstrong.

Adoption of the Ten Shared Principles have been signed by the following:

• Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office – Sheriff Michael Downey
• Kankakee Police Department – Chief Frank J. Kosman
• Kankakee Community College Police Department – Chief Rich Soderquist
• Bourbonnais Police Department – Chief Jim Phelps   
• Bradley Police Department – Chief Don Barber
• Grant Park Police Department – Chief Carl Frey
• Aroma Park Police Department – Chief Todd Navratil      
• Manteno Police Department – Chief Alan Swinford
• Momence Police Department – Chief Brian Brucato
• St. Anne Police Department – Chief David Skelly
• Herscher Police Department – Chief Chad Scanlon

 

Affirmation of Shared Principles: (Source: Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police)

NOW BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that we affirm the following principles regarding the relationship between law enforcement and the communities and people they serve in Illinois:

1. We value the life of every person and consider life to be the highest value.
2. All persons should be treated with dignity and respect. This is another foundational value.
3. We reject discrimination toward any person that is based on race, ethnicity, religion, color, nationality, immigrant status, sexual orientation, gender, disability, or familial status.
4. We endorse the six pillars in the report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The first pillar is to build and rebuild trust through procedural justice, transparency, accountability, and honest recognition of past and present obstacles.
5. We endorse the four pillars of procedural justice, which are fairness, voice (i.e., an opportunity for citizens and police to believe they are heard), transparency, and impartiality.
6. We endorse the values inherent in community policing, which includes community partnerships involving law enforcement, engagement of police officers with residents outside of interaction specific to enforcement of laws, and problem-solving that is collaborative, not one-sided.
7. We believe that developing strong ongoing relationships between law enforcement and communities of color at the leadership level and street level will be the keys to diminishing and eliminating racial tension.
8. We believe that law enforcement and community leaders have a mutual responsibility to encourage all citizens to gain a better understanding and knowledge of the law to assist them in their interactions with law enforcement officers.
9. We support diversity in police departments and in the law enforcement profession. Law enforcement and communities have a mutual responsibility and should work together to make a concerted effort to recruit diverse police departments.
10. We believe de-escalation training should be required to ensure the safety of community members and officers. We endorse using de-escalation tactics to reduce the potential for confrontations that endanger law enforcement officers and community members; and the principle that human life should be taken only as a last resort; and

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we vow by mutual affirmation to work together and stand together in our communities and at the state level to implement these values and principles, and to replace mistrust with mutual trust wherever, whenever, and however we can, and 

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we work collaboratively to publicize widely the adoption of this resolution throughout the state of Illinois.

 

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The City of Kankakee is dedicated to protecting, building and nurturing the community while enhancing lives. We are a historic, vibrant, and active riverfront community. We continue to transform into an extraordinary place to dream, grow, and thrive. Embracing our diversity, we strive to be progressive, inclusive, and innovative. For more information on the City of Kankakee, please visit the website at www.citykankakee-il.gov.

 

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