Please click on the following resolutions for the full text.

Professional Police Contacts	Feb 2000
Let Local Votes Count	Sep 2000
Curbing School & Youth Violence	Feb 2001

Whereas, in a free society, law enforcement is entrusted and expected to protect the civil rights of its citizens; and,

Whereas, the overwhelming majority of police officers perform their duty in a professional and impartial manner, free from bias; and,

Whereas, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes that tensions created by some police contacts with citizens have become a concern to police and citizens alike; and,

Whereas, this tension has been heightened by allegations of bias profiling and discriminatory practices, and,

Whereas, the MACP recognizes the important nature and necessity of traffic stops as a vital and effective law enforcement tool that saves lives, reduces injuries and reduces crimes; and,

Whereas, traffic stops have been proven to reduce street and violent crimes, increase the apprehension of criminal offenders, combat illegal drug activities, illegal guns and other crimes, and,

Whereas, the MACP acknowledges that bias, real or perceived, is detrimental to the relationship between police and the community they serve and erodes the basic foundations of trust affecting community policing; and,

Whereas, the MACP acknowledges that to strengthen trust and confidence between law enforcement and the community, its citizens and officers must have mutual respect; now therefore be it,

Resolved, that the MACP reaffirms its long standing position against biased enforcement or any other type of discriminatory practices; and be it,

Further Resolved, that the MACP does not endorse, train, teach, support, or condone any type of bias profiling by any law enforcement agency or individual acting under color of law; and be it,

Further Resolved, that the MACP urges all law enforcement administrators to examine their interdiction strategies and their mission and value statements, training programs, field supervision, evaluation of citizen complaints and other efforts to ensure that racial or ethnic-based traffic stops are not being employed within their agencies and that all citizens are treated with the utmost courtesy and respect when they encounter our officers.

WHEREAS, local governments across Michigan are empowered, under the principles of home rule, to enact and enforce policies, ordinances and contracts to maintain and enhance the health, safety and welfare of local residents; and

WHEREAS, historically, cities, villages, townships, counties and municipal authorities throughout Michigan have exercised home rule decision-making authority to address the wishes and desires of local residents in a manner that reflects their local values; and

WHEREAS, recent actions by the State Legislature to restrict, preempt or override municipal policies, ordinances and contracts have sharply eroded municipal home rule authority; and

WHEREAS, Let Local Votes Count has proposed an amendment to the Michigan Constitution to require a 2/3 vote of each chamber of the Michigan Legislature on any legislative bill that seeks to restrict or preempt the powers and authorities of cities, villages, townships, counties and municipal authorities under home rule; and

WHEREAS, the Let Local votes Count campaign has submitted to the Secretary of State Bureau of Elections the signatures of 467,179 registered voters to qualify the proposed constitutional amendment for the November 7 statewide election ballot; and

WHEREAS, recent polls indicate a majority of Michigan voters would support a constitutional amendment to limit state intervention in local governance,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police hereby endorses the Let Local Votes Count ballot initiative and urges Michigan voters to support the proposal on November 7, 2000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Let Local Votes Count campaign office in Lansing.

Adopted September 12, 2000.

	Laurence R. Van Alstine, Jr.
	President

As police chiefs working every day to get dangerous criminals off the streets, we know that investments today to help kids get the right start are among America’s most powerful weapons against crime. Quality child-care, parenting coaching and after-school programs can help kids learn the values and skills they need to become good neighbors instead of criminals. We therefore call on all our public officials to adopt policies described in FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS School and Youth Violence Prevention Plan:

• Provide all infants, toddlers and preschool children with quality school readiness child care at a price their parents can afford.

• Reduce child abuse and neglect by offering all at-risk parents “parenting coaches” through proven home visiting programs, as well as access to community-based family resource centers.

• Help schools identify trouble and disruptive children at an early age, and provide children and their parents with the counseling and training that can help kids get back on track.

• Provide for school-age children and teens after-school programs and access to weekend and summer programs that offer recreation, academic support and community service experience.