We are a group of concerned citizens, workers, business owners and community members who are deeply disturbed at Svante Myrick's plan to abolish and replace the Ithaca Police Department. Myrick's plan, which he announced to GQ Magazine prior to telling his own officers, would put many department workers and citizens in danger. It calls for placing unarmed officers in situations where armed officers once responded, calls for placing the police under the authority of a civilian executive director, and suggests a hiring process which would allow the politically motivated expulsion of many good officers who have served our community honorably. 

We will not be intimidated into silencing our support of our police. IPD has served this community honorably for many decades, and is an essential part of keeping our community safe and livable to this day. This plan is reckless, irresponsible, disrespectful towards our officers, and it disregards the needs of the community.

We call on the Ithaca common council to reject Myrick's plan, to give IPD the contract they deserve, to pushback against this climate of anti police hatred within our community, and to boldly proclaim their commitment to a community based on the rule of law.