POLICE CONDUCT

The NAACP plays a crucial role in the community by working to eliminate police misconduct. The NAACP seeks to work directly with law enforcement, to strengthen community ties and create understanding and racial harmony. In many instances the NAACP is the only organization available to give advice and report on civil rights violations committed by law enforcement officers.

• What is police misconduct?
  The NAACP is frequently asked to take action regarding police misconduct, which may occur in various forms.
• Verbal abuse and harassment, such as when a police officer uses a racial slur, is discourteous or uses offensive language while speaking to a suspect or bystander.
• Use of excessive force, such as when a police officer slaps or kicks a suspect who has already been handcuffed or has offered no resistance.
• Unjustified use of deadly force, such as when a police officer strangles a suspect to death using a "choke hold" or other means of physical restraint or force that is inappropriate under the circumstances.


• What if I am stopped or being falsely arrested by the police?
  It does not pay to act belligerent when stopped by the police, even if you are innocent. If stopped, you need to understand that the police officer is in command. You can defend your rights at a later time.
• Try not to be arrested. Do not allow the police to "bait" you. You may be in the right, but once you are arrested, however unlawfully, you will look as though you are in the wrong.
• Do not resist arrest. Do not make any quick or "threatening" motions or verbally threaten the police.
• If you are arrested, make mental notes while in police custody. Once you are by yourself, write down all details regarding any police misconduct that you have suffered (including the police officer's name, badge number, physical description, and patrol car number). Make similar notes if you are not arrested, but believe that you have been mistreated. The facts regarding what happened will be important later if you press charges against a particular police officer.
• Do not interfere with the arrest of another person. If you witness police misconduct, be prepared to report factual information. Write down all the details regarding any police misconduct you witness including a physical description of the officer(s) including his/her race and sex and description of the incident area. Be prepared to discuss how the officer arrived on the scene (i.e. by foot, patrol car, motorcycle, etc.) as well as your relationship, if any, to the victim.