Holbrooke was named a member of the new National Commission for Police Reform and Racial Justice.
Colombia, South Carolina (STL.News) The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) in Washington, DC, announced the appointment of Columbia Police Chief W.H. Holbrooke “skipped” the new National Police and Criminal Justice Reform Working Group.
The task force is a group of mayors and chiefs of police charged with finding solutions to end police violence and patterns of racial discrimination among law enforcement agencies.
Columbia City Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin, “The Conference of American Mayors recognized President Holbrooke’s outstanding service and leadership achievements by presenting his voice to the national conversation on the Police Reform and Racial Justice Task Force “said Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. “Many of the police reforms now being requested across the country have already been implemented by Skip Holbrooke in Colombia, which has made our city police a national best practice model. By adding their experience and seeing the Police in the 21st century as one of three chiefs Nationwide in this task force, President Holbrooke will help bring about positive, systemic, and positive changes in police work in the United States. “
“It is an honor for the City of Colombia and the Colombian Police Department to have a seat at the table for an important and important national initiative. During this difficult period, throughout our country, now is the time to have an open dialogue, identify best practices and develop new approaches to reform, “says city director Teresa Wilson. Police and Ethnic Justice President Holbrooke will not only add these efforts, as a member of the task force, but will also have the opportunity to be at the forefront of national reform and continued community policing efforts here in Colombia.
President Holbrooke was chosen from among his colleagues to include Baltimore Police Chief Michael Harrison and Phoenix Police Chief Jerry Williams.
The group is chaired by former Chief of Police Charles Ramsay, advisor to the American Conference of Mayors, former chief of police in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. and co-chair of President Obama’s 21st Century Police Task Force. According to USCM, the task force will produce, promote, and implement specific reforms to address police violence and patterns of racial discrimination. The Police Reform and Criminal Justice Task Force will take on the urgent task of developing a series of specific recommendations related to police practices in the United States to help end the complaints black Americans face.
The task force is also comprised of mayors from Chicago, Tampa and Cincinnati, and other experts in the field will assist them with the goal of making viable recommendations in the coming weeks.
Since President Holbrooke’s tenure at DPC, he has implemented the following community policing programs and other initiatives to create a foundation of trust and transparency with Colombia’s citizens.
- CPD received National Accreditation – Accreditation Commission for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)
- Worn camera software
- Suspected recorded audio / video interviews
- Citizen Advisory Council (CAC)
- SLED investigations into all officer shooting
- General report on internal affairs
- Police Scout Program
- Summer work programs in the Urban League.
- Roll call on front porch – community program
- Coffee with a Policeman – Community Program
- Crisis intervention training
- Escalation mitigation training
- The duty to interfere in politics.
- One Mind Campaign – Learn about mental illness
Chief Holbrook’s Biography:
President Holbrooke was appointed Chief of the Colombian Police Department on April 11, 2014. With over 28 years of experience in law enforcement, President Holbrooke has spent the past 12 years in executive and leadership positions. Under the leadership of Head Holbrooke, the Columbia Police Department is implementing organizational and operational reforms, which have been recognized by the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) for their police efforts in the 21st century. In addition, the department received the SCAN Award for the SCANA Association of Law Enforcement Officers (SCLEOA) for Excellence and received national accreditation from the Committee on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). President Holbrook received the 2018 Strom Thurmond Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement.
