Police use-of-force data to be compiled in national database

By Alana Cerrone

acerrone@abc6.com

@Alana_Cerrone

With videos of police encounters in Ferguson, Tulsa, and other places across the country, police use of force is under the microscope now more than ever. Former Narragansett Police Chief and current board member at the RI Police Chiefs Association Dean Hoxsie agrees.

"[With] the availability of a filming device to every human being on the planet…the scrutiny is on the officers to make sure they’re performing to the best they can using the minimal amount of force necessary…"

At a recent meeting of police chiefs nationwide, FBI Director James Comey said what’s missing in these cases is cold, hard facts. That is about to change.

Come January, the FBI and Justice Department are hoping a new program can lead to informed debates about policing in this country.

"There’s been information by the FBI that they want to create a national database to collect information on use of force"

The police chiefs association here in Rhode Island is on board with the program. In fact,  it’s something every department in the state is already doing to monitor any excessive force.

"It may be retraining, discipline, whatever the case may be to make sure you’re being compliant with your use of force policies."

So how will the new program affect our local police?

"On a national basis it will give Rhode Island the ability to look at ourselves and say ‘ok how are we doing compared to the rest of the country?’"

But some say collecting data is not necessarily good enough.

"The ACLU has some concerns and disappointment that that’s all we’re talking about at this point…there are people being harmed on a regular basis and here we are talking about data."

"I don’t necessarily disagree with that but you have to have a good starting point other than to say…’police officers can’t use force’".

© WLNE-TV 2016