I write this petition with a heavy heart and a desperate plea for change. An officer chose to sneak up on us, announced, with gun drawn inflicting fear and chaos that greatly disrupted our lives. This conduct was brought to the attention of the department as well as the Mayor and has been swept under the rug. My family was mercilessly attacked by individuals who were supposed to be our protectors - the police. In efforts to cover their misconduct they not only omitted the fact that they attacked us they fabricated stories to the grand jury in order to obtain an indictment against us.

This petition isn’t merely personal, it mirrors a horrifying national issue. The National Police Misconduct Reporting Project (2010) reported that police officers were accused of using excessive force approximately 23.8% of the time, making it the most common form of reported police misconduct. Not only does this misconduct destroy civilian lives, it also undermines faith in the justice system that supposedly serves us all. When officers are allowed to act as independent bullies, not adhering to the procedures, regulations and policies of our law enforcement, the whole system fails. Trust is lost, fear is instilled, and chaos runs rampant.

We need substantial change now. That's why we call upon our lawmakers to uphold policies and regulations which curb instances of police misconduct. Officer's should not only have frequent and comprehensive training in de-escalation tactics, but there should also stringent disciplinary action for those found guilty of misconduct. There needs to be transparent independent investigations into accusations against police officers so that their own departments cannot continue to hide the misconduct and officers are held accountable for going off policy and unjustly attacking civilians.

Our fight for accountability, justice, and safety from the very people given the mandate to protect us must begin today. By signing this petition, you join our demand for a system that respects and values all lives, and a country where the badge represents a commitment to protection, not a license for abuse. Please sign this petition today.