Highland Police Department adopts ‘Ten Shared Principles’ of civil rights & justice

Highland has now joined many other Illinois police departments by adopting “Ten Shared Principles” of civil rights and justice.

Police Chief Chris Conrad said the Ten Shared Principles were the result of multiple meetings between police chiefs and community leaders on a state level, and were adopted by the Illinois State Chapter of the NAACP and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.

“They’re a statement about everything we can do and what our common ground is, rather than our differences,” Conrad said.

In recommending their adoption by the city council last week, Conrad said the principles will “make our department the most professional we possibly can.”

In order to formally adopt the principles, departments have to do more than simply say they will accept them. They must incorporate these ideas into department training, engage a local NAACP chapter or community leader to speak to the importance of the program, and adopt the principles by resolution of the city council, which was voted Oct. 19.

“I cannot stress enough the need for all citizens to have faith and trust in our criminal justice system in order for the system to have legitimacy,” Conrad wrote in his memo supporting adoption of the principles. “Distrust reduces compliance and respect for the system and law enforcement and creates a more violent and higher crime society.”

The Ten Shared Principles are:

• We value the life of every person and consider life to be the highest value;
• All persons should be treated with dignity and respect. This is another foundational value;
• We reject discrimination toward any person that is based on race, ethnicity, religion, color, nationality, immigrant status, sexual orientation, gender, disability, or familial status;
• We endorse the six pillars in the report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The first pillar is to build and rebuild trust through procedural justice, transparency, accountability, and honest recognition of past and present obstacles;
• We endorse the four pillars of procedural justice, which are fairness, voice (i.e. an opportunity for citizens and police to believe they are heard), transparency, and impartiality;
• We endorse the values inherent in community policing, which include community partnerships involving law enforcement, engagement of police officers with residents outside of interaction specific to enforcement of laws, and problem-solving that is collaborative, not one-sided;
• We believe that developing strong ongoing relationships between law enforcement and communities of color at the leadership level and street level will be the keys to diminishing and eliminating racial tension;
• We believe that law enforcement and community leaders have a mutual responsibility to encourage all citizens to gain a better understanding and knowledge of the law to assist them in their interactions with law enforcement officers;
• We support diversity in police departments and in the law enforcement profession. Law enforcement and communities have a mutual responsibility and should work together to make a concerted effort to recruit diverse police departments;
• We believe de-escalation training should be required to ensure the safety of community members and officers. We endorse using de-escalation tactics to reduce the potential for confrontations that endanger law enforcement officers and community members, and the principle that human life should be taken only as a last resort.

Reverend from Highland Hope UMC offers input

In addition, Rev. Beverly Wilkes-Null of Highland Hope United Methodist Church spoke to the council about the principles, having partnered with Highland Police as part of the program. She said the Ten Shared Principles speak of integrity, accountability, fairness, innovation, diversity and inclusion.

“It serves as a reminder that the creation of a community where all citizens are welcome and feel safe to pursue their individual and communal aspirations requires continuous effort,” she said. “The adoption of these Ten Shared Principles can serve as an invitation to every citizen, young and old, rich and poor to offer a level of dignity and respect to each other.”

Wilkes-Null, or “Pastor Bev” as she is known in Highland, has served Highland Hope United Methodist Church since 2013. Conrad said she has a “unique perspective” not only as an African American leader, but as a religious leader, former basketball coach and soldier.

Conrad offers praise for ‘Pastor Bev’

“Her life experiences, I believe, offer a fantastic perspective on the importance of principled systems in society,” Conrad wrote in his memo. “I cannot thank her enough for her continued support of the department and our community.”

Conrad said he has discussed training, hiring practices and other steps that can be taken to implement the Ten Shared Principles as a belief system for Highland officers with Pastor Bev. Prior to the vote, he said they have already taken several steps to incorporate the principles into the annual use of force training and displaying them in the squad room for a constant reminder, as well as emphasizing the need for recruiting minority and women candidates for upcoming open positions in the police department.

“This will not be a ‘one and done’ training,” Conrad said.

The council’s vote to adopt the principles was unanimous.

This story was originally published October 25, 2020 at 12:36 AM.