Much of the oversight power for police departments and sheriff departments is with local government.
For example, in Michigan, the elected officials that oversee police departments in cities are City Councils (in weak Mayor systems) and Mayors (in strong Mayor systems). In counties, the elected officials that oversee sheriff departments are the County Sheriff and County Commission.
Example Policies
- Implement body worn cameras
- Ban chokeholds (passed statewide, but could be adopted at the local level)
- Decriminalize ordinances (reduce certain offenses from misdemeanors to civil infractions)
Example Websites dedicated to police reform
What policies or ordinances can be enacted by these bodies that would work toward better policing? Are there organizations that have local government specific policy suggestions?
