To the Spartanburg Community, City Council, and City Law Enforcement,
Spartanburg, SC, June 4th, 2015 – The Spartanburg Branch of the NAACP Applauds Police Chief Alonzo Thompson’s request for body cameras on all Spartanburg Police Officers. We encourage the Spartanburg City Council to grant his request in full. While we understand that the City has many needs, national, state, and local circumstances demand that we proactively equip officers with body cameras.
An analysis of statewide crime statistics finds that Spartanburg County had thirteen police shootings over the last four years—fifth most in the State. Admittedly, these shootings did not all occur in the City of Spartanburg but this issue is certainly one we must proactively engage..
The mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. In keeping with the pursuit of equality of rights, the Spartanburg Branch calls on the City Council to take immediate action on providing Spartanburg City Officers with body cameras.
We believe that body cameras improve interactions between officers and the community. Body cameras offer protection for the police when they act properly and protection for the community when police do not. We hope City Council will take this proactive approach and supply body cameras for our police department.
Sincerely,
NAACP Executive Board
