Growing oversight community

The National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) is a non-profit organization that brings together individuals and agencies working to establish or improve oversight of police officers in the United States. NACOLE welcomes people and organizations committed to fair and professional law enforcement that is responsive to community needs. NACOLE, established in 1995, is incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland. The organization has an elected board of directors, which is composed of individuals in the field of citizen oversight of the police. The board manages the organization pursuant to a set of by-laws. NACOLE is dedicated to promoting greater police accountability through the establishment or improvement of citizen oversight agencies by:

• organizing an annual training conference to increase the knowledge and skills of staff members and volunteers who work in oversight.
• act as a resource to jurisdictions considering the creation or revitalization of oversight bodies.
• identifying best practices as they emerge from the experiences of members.
• encouraging networking, communication and information-sharing to counter the isolation inherent in the profession.
• furnishing information to government officials and community representatives that will support their advocacy of oversight in their states, counties, cities and towns.

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• Ask what the organization you’re working with means to them.
• Ask them about any significant life experiences they’ve had related to the organization you’re working with.
• How has the organization improved their lives?
• What impact has the organization had on the Indianapolis community?
• Ask them to tell you something unique or interesting about their lives.
• Ask if they could snap their fingers and change one thing about the world, what would it be?
• Ask an open ended question about what they would want others to know about their life.
• Ask any other questions that you feel will help you get to know them better.

-Chair, board of directors Hired in 2013

-Problem, brand building, reliable voice within the organization, educating public,

-oversight is not police bashing but it feels a bit a like they chaperone

-“doctors, accountants, elected officials all have board oversight, why shouldn’t cops?”

-Platform for oversight practitioners, standardizing strategy of oversight

-Incentivizing Police department and community discussion,

-Funding.

-Valuing individual rights in jail

-A world where NACOLE doesn’t need to exist

-Growing oversight community

-Personal police abuse

-Outreach speaks with families who have been wronged by police

-The more people that are aware the more legitimized oversight becomes