October 10, 2012

Today, MPAC and the Muslim American Homeland Security Congress (MAHSC) commended the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) for adopting a powerful resolution at its 119^th Annual Conference in San Diego last week condemning prejudice in law enforcement training and pledging to promote bias-free training on countering violence extremism.

The IACP is the largest, most prominent and active organization for police agencies internationally. With more than 14,000 people representing 65 countries in attendance at this year’s conference, the passage of the resolution should send a loud and clear message to law enforcement agencies worldwide.

"Twenty-one thousand members of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, representing police departments throughout the United States as well as internationally, voted on and passed this resolution to ensure prejudice and discrimination was absent from any training or education provided to law enforcement," said LAPD Deputy Chief Michael Downing. "A similar resolution was passed this year from the Major Cities Chiefs Police Association, making a clear and determined statement that poor quality training that was not fact based and reflected prejudice and discrimination would not be tolerated."

The resolution reads in part:

“WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police condemns prejudice and discrimination; and

WHEREAS, violent extremism as a threat is not constrained by any single ideology; and, religion, ethnicity, and cultural background do not explain why a small few choose to engage in violence based on their radical beliefs; and

WHEREAS, the best approach to Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) and defeating terrorism emphasizes the strength of local communities and the trusting relationships that law enforcement has with local communities, which represents the best defense against terrorist ideologies and violent extremists; … now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police condemns bias and prejudice in all forms of CVE training and education; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police promotes a CVE training curriculum for law enforcement that is based upon values of equality and fairness to all cultures, nationalities, and religious beliefs;…”

“We appreciate the IACP’s resolution and we will continue to work diligently to ensure equal protection under the law,” said Salam Al-Marayati, MPAC’s President.

“This is an opportunity to stand side by side with law enforcement on an issue which concerns all communities,” said Dafer Dakhil, the chairperson of MAHSC. “We express our support without reservation.”

The past few years have been strenuous between police departments and the communities they serve, as a result of high profile controversies around spying, profiling and infiltration of American Muslim communities. These tactics have not only proven to be ineffective and resulted in wasting taxpayers’ money, but have crushed the fragile trust of the community.