Report Recommendation 2.7

Pillar 2: Policy and Oversight

2.7 Report Recommendation: Law enforcement agencies should create policies and procedures for policing mass demonstrations that employ a continuum of managed tactical resources that are designed to minimize the appearance of a military operation and avoid using provocative tactics and equipment that undermine civilian trust.

BRPD Alignment

  1. Instruction on tactical techniques for crowd control that promote peaceful demonstrations is taught in BRPD’s Training Academy. (Academy Course Schedule)

  2. BRPD’s Civil Disturbance Policy guides operational and technical aspects of public demonstrations and is aligned with applicable standards of the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

  3. The tragic events, which occurred in Baton Rouge in 2016, prompted city, law enforcement, and community leaders to change not only citizens’ perceptions of law enforcement but to build trusting relationships between law enforcement and groups in the City of Baton Rouge. The emphasis placed on community policing and the community’s willingness to work with law enforcement has resulted in a culture of understanding and cooperation. This is evident in the peaceful demonstrations that occurred in Baton Rouge during the summer of 2020. While communities across the country dealt with violent protests and negative interactions between law enforcement and demonstrators, protests in Baton Rouge took place largely without incident.

    Resources

    High schoolers organized downtown Baton Rouge peaceful protest that gathered hundreds

     

    Enough is enough': Baton Rouge community joins together against police brutality, racial injustice in protest

     

    Gov. Edwards said state citizens handled themselves well during George Floyd protests

     

    Hundreds gather peacefully at state capitol to protest against police brutality

     

    Collective Healing Grant