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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 should calmly cooperate with law enforcement and respectfully
53 communicate concerns with their law enforcement agency leadership and law enforcement
54 agencies must be committed to thoroughly investigating legitimate complaints and concerns
55 brought to them by citizens; and
56 WHEREAS, to meet these ends, the Utah Law Enforcement Legislative Committee has
57 proposed the creation of the Listen and Explain, Cooperate and Communicate Campaign,
58 which would facilitate cooperation between citizens and law enforcement:
59 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor
60 concurring therein, supports and encourages the creation of the Listen and Explain, Cooperate
61 and Communicate Campaign.
62 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage Utah's
63 law enforcement agencies to use this campaign as a means to train their officers to actively and
64 intently listen to citizens concerns during all interactions and then reasonably and respectfully
65 explain, when possible, what action will take place according to the law or agency policy.