Over the last two years the public has been made acutely aware of police actions which have resulted in the unjustified killing of innocent unarmed African American men. Though Philando Castile and Alton Sterling are the most recent victims to perish as a result of the actions of police officers, they are unfortunately on a long and growing list of citizens to suffer this fate. The NMA deplores this unjustified use of excessive and often lethal force. Now the NMA announces the development of the Working Group on Gun Violence and Police Use of Force dedicated to establishing recommendations for comprehensive public health and criminal justice reform. This working group will set a clear violence prevention public health agenda for America while advocating for sensible gun reform. The work product will be geared towards decreasing the morbidity and mortality disparities associated with violence and police use of force within our communities.
We, as African American physicians, reject the notion that our communities must be policed in a way that results in increased injury, deaths and incarceration of so many of our patients. It is clear that instances of inappropriate force by police can lead to significant injury.
The injuries associated with police use of force occur during the:
- Pre-custody period (commission of a crime, during a fight, chase, and apprehension, during a siege or hostage situation, or during restraint or submission)
- In custody period (soon after being admitted to jail, during interrogation, during incarceration, or legal execution) AND:
- Post-custody period (revenge by police or rival criminals or after reentry into the community).
Injuries sustained by civilians at the hands of law enforcement include gunshot wounds, skull fractures, cervical spine injuries, facial fractures, broken legs, blunt trauma orbital floor fractures, laryngeal cartilage fractures, shoulder dislocations, cuts and bruises, concussions, hemorrhage, choking (positional or due to upper body holds), abdominal trauma, hemothorax, and pneumothorax . Complications of such injuries include post-traumatic brain swelling, infections following open fractures and lacerations, hydrocephalus due to blood or infection, as well as subdural and epidural hematomas and, in the most severe cases, death.
For these reasons a public health approach is critical to addressing the administration of force by police officers within communities subject to disparate practices. When an arrest is indicated, it is imperative that police officers are trained in techniques designed to safely restrain suspects, while protecting themselves from harm, with the goal of safe transport to police headquarters.Understanding the inherent stress involved in performing their duties, it is critical that police officers have an initial mental health assessment and ongoing psychological support services. As a result, we ask for the following:
- We ask that there be an immediate review and assessment of current state, local, and federal law enforcement hiring practices and their criteria for selection.
- We ask that there be immediate review and assessment of current state, local, and federal law enforcement training criteria, continuing education, mental health risk assessment, further development of psychological support services, bias mitigation, and conflict resolution protocols.
- We ask that specific federal appropriations be reinstated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for basic research into the public health effects of gun violence.
- We ask that there be mandatory state, local, and federal adherence to H.R. 1447 – Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013 amended to require the inclusion of independent Medical Examiner reports and the US Standard Death Certificate.
We support police officers and law enforcement officials who are working to address these critical issues. We commend them for their daily efforts to protect and serve their community, ensuring the safety of citizens.
As physicians, we believe violence is unacceptable under any circumstance. We ask that all demonstrations remain peaceful to protect the health and safety of citizens and law enforcement alike.
Contact:
National Medical Association
202-347-1895
aredd@nmanet.org
###
Founded in 1895, the National Medical Association (NMA) is the nation’s oldest and largest medical association representing the interests of African American physicians and the patients they serve. The NMA advocates for policies that would assure equitable and quality health care for all people. For more information on the NMA visit, www.NMAnet.org