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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING SUPPORT FOR

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THE LISTEN AND EXPLAIN, COOPERATE AND

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COMMUNICATE CAMPAIGN

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2023 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper

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House Sponsor: Ken Ivory

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9     LONG TITLE
10     General Description:
11          This resolution supports the creation of the Listen and Explain, Cooperate and
12     Communicate Campaign.
13     Highlighted Provisions:
14          This resolution:
15          ▸     highlights the importance of a relationship of trust between law enforcement and the
16     community members they serve;
17          ▸     details what elements must be in place to strengthen the relationship between law
18     enforcement and community members; and
19          ▸     supports the creation of the Listen and Explain, Cooperate and Communicate
20     Campaign.
21     Special Clauses:
22          None
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24     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
25          WHEREAS, public safety is paramount to a thriving and healthy society;
26          WHEREAS, Utah's law enforcement officers are integral to the safety of our cities and
27     towns, our counties, and our state;
28          WHEREAS, positive interactions and civility, including respectful dialogue and
29     communication during police interactions by all parties, is paramount to building relationships

30     of trust;
31          WHEREAS, Sir Robert Peele, the father of modern policing, wrote in 1829 about the
32     importance of the partnership between the police and the community, arguing the police at all
33     times should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition
34     that the police are the public and the public are the police;
35          WHEREAS, Sir Robert Peele also stressed the responsibility of the law enforcement
36     profession to continually be proactive and collaborative with the citizens they are sworn to
37     protect, stating the ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public
38     approval of police existence, actions, behavior, and the ability of the police to secure and
39     maintain public respect;
40          WHEREAS, Utah's residents are also responsible to be good partners with their law
41     enforcement agencies within their respective communities;
42          WHEREAS, when citizens trust and cooperate with law enforcement, use of force
43     incidents are reduced and safety is increased for everyone involved;
44          WHEREAS, the Utah Legislature has made legislation designed to enhance the safety
45     of the general public and the wellness and safety of Utah's law enforcement officers a clear
46     priority;
47          WHEREAS, recent events nationally and locally have strained the relationship between
48     our law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve;
49          WHEREAS, a reduction in use of force incidents is dependent upon repairing the
50     strained relationship between law enforcement and community members;
51          WHEREAS, in order for the relationship between citizens and law enforcement to be
52     strengthened, citizens and law enforcement should calmly and respectfully cooperate with each
53     other;
54          WHEREAS, law enforcement agencies and law enforcement agency leadership must be
55     committed to thoroughly investigating legitimate complaints and concerns brought to them by
56     citizens; and
57          WHEREAS, to meet these ends, the Utah Law Enforcement Legislative Committee has

58     proposed the creation of the Listen and Explain, Cooperate and Communicate Campaign,
59     which would facilitate cooperation between citizens and law enforcement:
60          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor
61     concurring therein, supports and encourages the creation of the Listen and Explain, Cooperate
62     and Communicate Campaign.
63          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage Utah's
64     law enforcement agencies to use this campaign as a means to train their officers to actively and
65     intently listen to citizens' concerns during all interactions and then reasonably and respectfully
66     explain, when possible, what action will take place according to the law or agency policy.