The Riverside Faculty Association (RFA) wish to bring your attention to an URGENT matter we have just become aware of relating to proposed changes in policy relating to University-wide Police Policies and Administrative Procedures. We believe these proposals undermine and contradict current efforts to re-examine the role of the police and policing at the University of California and should be rejected. https://senate.universityofcalifornia.edu/_files/underreview/gold-book-systemwide-review.pdf
The policies are currently undergoing review by the Academic Senate but have received scant attention from the broader UC community. The proposed changes include an updated “Use of Force” policy; a new “Body Worn Audio” policy; a new “Systemwide Response Team” policy; and a new “Concealed Carry Weapons” policy.
The most disturbing and insidious of these proposed policies is the creation of a “Systemwide Response Team” made up of UCPD officers from all campuses: a tactical team with specialized equipment and weaponry intended to suppress demonstrations and other forms of civil action. This proposal is in Chapter 16 beginning on page 15 of the document. The rationale for its creation and its deployment is not clearly described in the proposal, which opens the question of why it is being formed at all and at this time.
The creation of a new SWAT-style police force, the establishment of policies that endorse the use of force with specialized equipment by UC police are utterly unacceptable reinforcements of police departments’ long record of gendered racist and antiblack violence and harassment.
None of these policies should be enacted while the University undergoes a review and transformation of campus safety and security, including symposia organized by the UC Office of the President, and while UC faculty, students and staff participate in a growing, national movement to transform campus and public safety.
We call on these policies to be withdrawn immediately.
Faculty who would like to submit a comment on the proposed policies should send an email to Chair of the Riverside Division of the Academic Senate, Professor Jason Stajich. The comment period at the Academic Senate ends TODAY APRIL 21ST 2021 and we urge your promptness on this matter: https://senate.universityofcalifornia.edu/under-review/index.html
The policies are currently undergoing review by the Academic Senate but have received scant attention from the broader UC community. The proposed changes include an updated “Use of Force” policy; a new “Body Worn Audio” policy; a new “Systemwide Response Team” policy; and a new “Concealed Carry Weapons” policy.
The most disturbing and insidious of these proposed policies is the creation of a “Systemwide Response Team” made up of UCPD officers from all campuses: a tactical team with specialized equipment and weaponry intended to suppress demonstrations and other forms of civil action. This proposal is in Chapter 16 beginning on page 15 of the document. The rationale for its creation and its deployment is not clearly described in the proposal, which opens the question of why it is being formed at all and at this time.
The creation of a new SWAT-style police force, the establishment of policies that endorse the use of force with specialized equipment by UC police are utterly unacceptable reinforcements of police departments’ long record of gendered racist and antiblack violence and harassment.
None of these policies should be enacted while the University undergoes a review and transformation of campus safety and security, including symposia organized by the UC Office of the President, and while UC faculty, students and staff participate in a growing, national movement to transform campus and public safety.
We call on these policies to be withdrawn immediately.
Faculty who would like to submit a comment on the proposed policies should send an email to Chair of the Riverside Division of the Academic Senate, Professor Jason Stajich. The comment period at the Academic Senate ends TODAY APRIL 21ST 2021 and we urge your promptness on this matter: https://senate.universityofcalifornia.edu/under-review/index.html
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