Press Release: Councilmember Bonds Statement on Final Report of the D.C. Police Reform Commission

News Release — At-large DC Council member Anita Bonds

For Immediate Release: 

April 1, 2021

At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds releases the following statement in response to the DC Police Reform Commission’s release of their final report, Decentering Police to Improve Public Safety: A Report of the DC Police Reform Commission.

“Last summer, as our city, along with the rest of the nation, witnessed and participated in mass protests in response to the murders of George Floyd and too many other persons of color by law enforcement personnel, Councilmember Vincent Gray and I made a determination to look closely at the District’s policing polices and outcomes. Councilmember Gray had the foresight to propose the action and I proudly became his co-introducer of the legislation that established the DC Police Reform Commission.

We recognized that systemic problems with police departments across the country, including here in the District, were too big to tackle on an ad hoc basis through piecemeal reforms. Although the Council has made significant progress through emergency and temporary legislation since the height of last summer’s unrest, clearly a comprehensive assessment and response was needed. This was formulated by bringing together the best possible pool of experts to develop reform recommendations on the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) outdated policies and practices that have a disproportionate and discriminatory impact on our communities of color, particularly our black residents. The goals of the commission were to conclude with consensus and to remove political considerations through an objective body of work. Today, I am confident that these objectives are instilled throughout the report.   

This report is the culmination of more than half a year of substantive deliberation by a group of exemplary public servants skilled with a variety of expertise in criminal justice, the judiciary, and at-risk youth. The commissioners often worked daily and late into the night with each bringing unique perspectives to reimagining policing throughout the District in the 21st Century. 

The Commission’s conclusions are compelling and challenging. Many of their recommendations are needed. As projected by the Commission, “Police have the ability to take human liberty and life.” I am confident that this report provides a roadmap to creating a more equitable, compassionate, transparent, and efficient MPD in the years ahead. My personal thanks to the many members of the community that contributed to the report.

A special thanks to Commission Co-Chairs Christy Lopez and Robert Bobb for their dedicated service and leadership. I commend Chairman Phil Mendelson for working with Councilmember Gray, myself, and others to appoint a highly diverse and qualified commission.

I look forward to working in partnership with my Council colleagues, the Mayor, Chief of Police and community to make these recommendations a reality for our city. I am really looking forward to MPD becoming a policing model for the rest of the nation.”

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