At the heart of this petition is a deeply deplorable act that most recently happened to an unarmed woman in Illinois only moments after telling an officer she rebukes him in the name of JESUS. Too many lives have been tragically snuffed out or irrevocably altered by the actions of police officers who should not have been on the force due to a history of misconduct or inadequate training.

That's why we need to push for a national database that keeps track of both the commendable and condemnable actions of police officers. If an officer is dismissed for negligent acts or misconduct, they should be barred from serving as law enforcement officers in all 50 states. Not only will this ensure accountability, but it will also protect innocent lives.

According to the Police Integrity Research for the Public Good, previous police misconduct is a strong predictor of future problematic behavior (White, 2016). This makes the absence of a national misconduct registry a serious concern. An accountable, competent, and trustworthy police force is a cornerstone of a safe and just society, and creating this mandatory database is a step in the right direction.

No more lives should be put in danger due to a lack of transparency and accountability in our law enforcement. Sign this petition today and let’s demand a safer future for all.