Public Safety & Law Enforcement Reform

We need a law enforcement system that is professional, accountable, and truly serves the people. My campaign is based on real conversations with law enforcement officers and community members who all want a safer and fairer system.

Understanding the Problem

Law enforcement officers are often placed in impossible situations with insufficient training, while communities continue to experience racial profiling, excessive force, and lack of accountability from bad actors in departments. Public trust in law enforcement is at an all-time low.

Instead of political slogans, we need real reform; one that prioritizes public safety, officer well-being, and justice.

Findings from My Interviews with Officers

As part of my commitment to meaningful reform, I have been conducting ride-alongs and interviews with officers across my district. Here’s what they told me:

Officers feel undertrained and overworked, especially in handling mental health crises and de-escalation.
There is a lack of consistent national training standards, leading to wildly different policing approaches depending on the department.
Many officers support better training and increased accountability, but fear backlash if they report misconduct internally.
Recruitment and retention are at crisis levels due to burnout, stress, and a lack of public trust in police departments.

My Plan for Public Safety & Law Enforcement Reform

We must improve training, increase oversight, and provide real support for law enforcement professionals who uphold the values of justice and integrity. Here’s how:

Raising the Standard for Law Enforcement Training

Increase police academy training hours to more closely align with international standards, prioritizing de-escalation, mental health response, and constitutional law.
Mandatory ongoing education to ensure officers stay trained in non-violent conflict resolution and community policing.
Specialized units for non-violent crisis response, so police aren't forced to handle every social issue outside of their expertise.

Holding Officers Accountable While Protecting Good Cops

End qualified immunity for officers who clearly violate constitutional rights, ensuring victims can seek justice.
Expand whistleblower protections for officers who report misconduct within their departments.
Create a national database of officers fired for misconduct to prevent bad actors from moving between departments.
Establish civilian oversight boards with real power to investigate police misconduct.

Demilitarizing Police While Ensuring Officer Safety

Restrict the transfer of military-grade equipment to local police forces unless absolutely necessary.
Ban incendiary devices, chemical agents that cause lasting harm, and excessive force tools in civilian settings.
Develop safer, non-lethal alternatives for crowd control and crisis response.

Strengthening Mental Health & Crisis Response

Increase funding for mental health crisis response teams so officers aren’t forced to handle situations they aren’t trained for.
Ensure every department has access to licensed mental health professionals for officer wellness and debriefing.
Improve officer schedules and reduce excessive overtime to prevent burnout and stress-related mistakes.

Ensuring Law Enforcement is Community-Focused

Expand community policing programs that focus on relationship-building rather than aggressive enforcement.
Require police departments to engage with local communities in non-enforcement settings, such as school visits and public forums.
Encourage departments to partner with local organizations to address homelessness, addiction, and youth engagement.

A Balanced Approach to Public Safety

Public safety isn’t about slogans—it’s about real solutions. We can improve trust in law enforcement, reduce crime, and protect officers and civilians alike.

This plan is built from conversations with officers, experts, and community members, ensuring that public safety is a priority without sacrificing accountability.