Posted on by ggreen

Response: BLM Utah Chapter – Police Transparency & Accountability Survey

This is not an endorsement.

For transparency, I am providing my answers to a survey from Black Lives Matter Utah Chapter – Police Transparency & Accountability Survey so that my positions on these questions can be shared with constituents. I want to make note that some of the survey questions are either too broad or specific, but are also required to complete the survey. Please see my comments following these blocks of questions for better explainers of my stances. . My response to BLM Utah appears on their site here.

Q1: Email

ggreen.hd44@gmail.com

Q2: Do Black Lives Matter? (respond Yes/No)

Yes

Q3: If elected, or re-elected, what programs will you implement to help the black and brown community?

The House Representative role is a 2-year term, and I will be a freshman in Utah’s congress. Having said that, my approach (if I move forward at Caucus and participate as a candidate in the general election) will be to organize groups to work together on shaping 2025 legislative bills that can be submitted in the new year. You can see the list of topics that I want to submit bills for at https://utah44.com/proposed-2025-legislation/

Q4: First and Last name

Greg Green

Q5: What City/State are you running in?

South Jordan, Utah

Q6: Which district?

44

Q7: Which office are you running for?

Utah House of Representatives, District 44

Q8: Who is/are your opponent(s)? (Please disregard if your race has concluded)

Currently: Jordan Teuscher (R) – incumbent. I expect there will be more candidate filings, as No Labels Party candidates have a filing deadline of April 29, 2024. See https://vote.utah.gov/2024-candidate-filings/ for a current list of candidates.

Q9: Which of your opponents should NOT be elected, and why? (Please disregard if your race has concluded)

I am running against Jordan Teuscher, who is consistently anti-union, and actively legislates against workers rights that negatively affect teachers, public workers, and the unions that represent them. He has supported bills that degrade state career-service employees to at-will status. I support the right to organize, and to establish collective bargaining for both public and private employees. I also support a national bill to pass the Protecting the Rights to Organize (PRO) Act that will expand labor protections for employees’ rights to organize and for collective bargaining in the workplace.
– Jordan actively votes against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) supports, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. Jordan is party to the overall “chilling” effect in Utah over racial equity, LGBTQ+ supports, trans rights, and promoting bias. I support diversity initiatives and strongly defend marginalized communities and environmental programs.
– Jordan is a proponent of vouchers that bleed our public school funding. I support our public school system, and believe that teachers and school administrators need to be allowed to do their good work without interference from the legislature. I support pay increases and retention programs that incentives to keep teachers in our schools.
– Jordan actively votes against pro-choice. I support women’s rights for safe abortion access. I also support school curriculums that provide age-appropriate instruction on sex education that is not based on “abstinence only”.
– According to the Alliance for a Better Utah, Jordan Teuscher receives an “F” rating for the 2023 legislative session.

Q10: If you are not elected, which of your opponents should win, and why? (Please disregard if your race has concluded)

There is no a preferred alternative.

Q11: What is your political party? (Democratic, Republican, Green, Other)

Democratic

Q12: In September 2021, the Salt Lake Tribune, in partnership with PBS Frontline, released an in-depth investigative report on the racial and ethnic make-up of people shot by Utah police. The report revealed that Utah police shoot people who are Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander disproportionately to white people. Moreover, the majority of white people shot were in possession of a gun or fake gun, while the majority of racial and ethnic minorities were not. What is your reaction to these findings and what will you do to address these disparities? https://www.sltrib.com/news/2021/09/20/new-data-utah-police/

We need a close relationship with our police force that respects community engagement but is not patronizing. Diversity initiatives and accountability measures have significant impact in transparency and trust. Education is important, particularly for de-escalation and for interactions with the disability community, and mental illness. I also think we need more community resource engagement rather than police intervention. Justice is an important concept that must be found in cases where threats, intimidation, discrimination, detaining, violence and death. Our goal should be “everyone is protected, and everyone is respected”. (this answer is repeated later in this survey)

Q13: Several major cities across the United States have created Community Controlled Civilian Review Boards which have the power to discipline police. Community-based organizations in Salt Lake City have developed a model ordinance, the Salt Lake Civilian Police Accountability Council (SLCPAC), which would establish a community-controlled civilian review board in Salt Lake City. Would you support the creation of the SLCPAC or other similar boards in your city and in Utah? (We are aware that HB415, which was passed during the 2019 General Session [https://le.utah.gov/~2019/bills/static/HB0415.html], places some restrictions on creating review boards, yet does not make it impossible.)

I support the creation of the SLCPAC and similar boards in cities and counties of Utah. Following a summer of protests over the killing of George Floyd and widespread examples of police brutality, common-sense reforms like increasing oversight and accountability over local police agencies should continue to receive attention. I have concerns about appointment to a CRB, and what actions can be taken if a member of the CRB acts unethically. Decisions by the CRB should be handed to a prosecuting authority rather than grant the CRB full punitive capabilities. CRBs should have authority to make recommendations for individuals, departments, cities and counties with referral to hiring organizations, or for escalation to broader authorities to intervene.

Q14: Would you support efforts to repeal HB415? (respond Yes/No)

Yes

Q15: What is your reaction to the limitations that HB415 places on local authority to create independent civilian review boards?

HB74 was submitted in 2021 but did not pass through the legislature that year. We need to create a replacement for HB415 that will survive both houses.

Q16: Would you advocate for, or oppose a stronger use of force policy for police?

I oppose a stronger use of force policy. See https://utah44.com/issues-police/

Q17: How strongly will you advocate for the following policies regarding public information about actions taken by police officers in your district? (Select only one: Very Strongly. I will work proactively to make this happen; Strongly. I will advocate when it comes up; Somewhat strongly. I will be mildly positive about it; Not strongly. I do not really agree with this policy; Not at all. I do not agree with this policy)

  • Require officers to report all uses of force to a public database (Very Strongly)
  • Use a database to inform an early intervention system that retrains and disciplines officers with repeated uses of force or civilian complaints (Very Strongly)
  • Make a Use-of-Force database available to the public. (Not at all)
  • Make footage from body cams in situations involving use of force available to the public (Very Strongly)
  • Publicly release unedited body cam footage of officer-involved shootings (Not at all)
  • Require public release of unedited body cam footage of uses of force and officer-involved footage within 10 days of the incident. (Very Strongly)
  • Require public release of demographic information on people stopped by police in your district (Strongly)
  • Require public release of demographic information on people arrested by police officers in your district (Strongly)

Q18: Please add any comments about your views on providing the public with information about actions taken by police officers in your district.

These radio selections are generally too broad or too specific. Aggregated data on people stopped or arrested should be anonymized to protect individuals, and the frequency of reporting needs to be specified. I have concerns about who would be authorized to maintain the proposed public database, and what compliance measures would be in place to ensure that records are submitted promptly and maintained for a specified period. FOI requests for information, including body footage, should always be expedited.

Q19: How strongly will you advocate for the following policies regarding video recording devices/ bodycams? (Select only one: Very Strongly. I will work proactively to make this happen; Strongly. I will advocate when it comes up; Somewhat strongly. I will be mildly positive about it; Not strongly. I do not really agree with this policy; Not at all. I do not agree with this policy)

  • Require police officers use technology that collects audio and visual data of police interactions (including body cameras)(Very Strongly)
  • Develop clear policies governing bodycam use, storage and accessibility of footage in consultation with activists and community organizations (Strongly)
  • Record all police interactions with civilians (except where a civilian opts not to be recorded, notification of the option not to be recorded should be required upon first contact) (Not Strongly)
  • Make footage from body cams in situations involving use of force available to the public (Strongly)
  • Allow civilians to review footage involving them or a relative and require this information be released to the public (Strongly)
  • Prevent officers from reviewing footage of an incident before completing initial reports or statements (Strongly)
  • Secure the privacy of civilians during all processes (Very Strongly)
  • Assure the right of the public to record the police by video and audio, without fear of having their devices confiscated or damaged (Very Strongly)

Q20: Please use this area to add comments about your views on policies for bodycam usage.

Again, these radio selections are generally too broad or too specific. If police are required to interact with civilians and be recorded, then it should always be recorded. There are too many legal loopholes for who would be authorized to request no recording (in a domestic dispute, does the abuser have the right to say no camera?). If a violent crime is committed in a business, does the business manager have the right to request no cameras so their business isnt negatively impacted?). Privacy needs to be assured unless the case is exceptional (a threshold would need to be determined). This also raises concerns about the public database access referenced in the previous question. Requests for footage should not be limited to individuals involved and their families. Anyone should be able to make a FOI request for information.

Q21: How strongly will you advocate for the following policies regarding de-escalation techniques and non-force actions by police officers in your district? (Select only one: Very Strongly. I will work proactively to make this happen; Strongly. I will advocate when it comes up; Somewhat strongly. I will be mildly positive about it; Not strongly. I do not really agree with this policy; Not at all. I do not agree with this policy)

  • Prohibits officers from using force on a person for talking back or as a punishment for running away (Very Strongly)
  • Implement a performance evaluation system that rewards, and values effective interpersonal skills (de-escalation, effective work with people who have mental health and substance abuse challenges, and countering bias, etc.) (Very Strongly)
  • Modify police department use of force policies to require officers use minimal force and de-escalation tactics, carry a less-lethal weapon, and intervene when another officer uses excessive force (Very Strongly)
  • Require training for and use of non-force techniques for people with mental health and/or substance abuse issues (Very Strongly)
  • Require training for and use of non-force techniques for people who are homeless and/or are victims of domestic violence (Very Strongly)
  • Re-allocate funding for non-sworn personnel who can assist in cases of mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, and domestic violence (Very Strongly)
  • Require training that uses the latest science on implicit bias based on social identities, including people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and non-English speakers (Very Strongly)
  • Require evaluation of police officers’ ability to recognize bias and knowledge of techniques to counter it (Very Strongly)
  • Reward police officers who successfully use anti-bias techniques (Very Strongly)
  • Conduct an assessment of what kind of training is most effective in terms of helping law enforcement personnel to achieve goals of effective, non-violent policing (Very Strongly)
  • Implement training identified as the most successful toward achieving effective, non-violent policing (Very Strongly)

Q22: Please share your comments on de-escalation techniques and non-force actions by police officers in your district.

This is all very strongly supported by me. All of these options are excellent. Might want to update annual trainings on what it means to uphold the law to include mandatory reporting for ethics violations, including acts of excessive force.

Q23: How strongly will you advocate for the following policies regarding community involvement with police officers and the police department(s) in your district? (Select only one: Very Strongly. I will work proactively to make this happen; Strongly. I will advocate when it comes up; Somewhat strongly. I will be mildly positive about it; Not strongly. I do not really agree with this policy; Not at all. I do not agree with this policy)

  • Hire a local research institution to field a regular survey of community perceptions of the police (Not strongly)
  • Use results of a community survey to guide officer evaluations as well as department policies and practices (Very Strongly Support)
  • Institute a model system where people stopped by the police are immediately given a card by the officer, with their name and badge number, what the stop was for, and how to file a complaint, should they chose to (Very Strongly Support)
  • Increase representation from the community by hiring more women and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color as police officers (Very Strongly Support)
  • Hold regularly-scheduled community forums about police activities (Very Strongly Support)
  • Implement special outreach to minority communities to participate in community meetings (Very Strongly Support)
  • Support Civilian Review Boards (CRBs) in your district to hold police accountable for misconduct
  • Give CRBs the power to investigate police misconduct independently (Somewhat strongly)
  • Give CRBs the power to subpoena individuals and collect documentation on police misconduct (Somewhat strongly)
  • Give CRBs the power to discipline police officers found guilty of misconduct (Somewhat strongly)
  • Give CRBs the power to investigate and discipline police misconduct, specifically in the case of a police shooting (Somewhat strongly)
  • Promote, expand, improve, innovate the membership of CRBs (Very Strongly Support)
  • Disallow current or former law enforcement personnel to serve on CRBs (Not at all)
  • Disallow family members of law enforcement personnel on CRBs (Not at all)
  • Make serving on a CRB a paid position (Not at all)
  • Require an independent and external prosecutor, separate from the City or County prosecutor’s office, or any other government agency, to manage the proceedings following independent investigation (Strongly Support)

Q24: Please share your comments on community involvement with police officers and the police department(s) in your district

  • We need a close relationship with our police force that respects community engagement but is not patronizing. Diversity initiatives and accountability measures have significant impact in transparency and trust. Education is important, particularly for de-escalation and for interactions with the disability community, and mental illness. I also think we need more community resource engagement rather than police intervention. Justice is an important concept that must be found in cases where threats, intimidation, discrimination, detaining, violence and death. Our goal should be “everyone is protected, and everyone is respected”.
  • I have some concerns about “local research institution” versus a qualified organization. I understand that local issues, history, demographics affect research but should also include sound information gathering, analysis and reporting that can be aggregated to broader studies to perform meta-analysis of regions within the state, statewide, and regionally.
  • Regarding former law enforcement or families being restricted from serving on the board… what if it was a former wife of a law enforcement officer who was protected from domestic abuse charges? What if the law enforcement officer was a whistle blower? Rather than make blanket exclusions, the criteria to serve on the board should be based on their ability to contribute to the stated purpose of the board.

Q25: Alternatives to Incarceration – Background: The United States incarcerates a larger share of its population than any other country in the world (Pew Research Center 2021). There are active nationwide campaigns seeking to reduce the prison population by half using strategies such as alternative to incarceration programs; the reform of money bail systems and extreme sentencing laws, and the provision of support to people who are reintegrating into society after incarceration. Questions: 1) What are your views on reducing the number of people who are incarcerated in Utah and the U.S.? 2) What changes do you believe need to be made to the Utah and U.S. prison systems? 3) Will you support the implementation of alternative to incarceration programs?

Stop privatizing prisons. Personal drug use and possession of drug paraphernalia should not be jailable offenses. At the Federal level marijuana should be removed from schedule 1 list of the Drug Schedule. We need to fund medical and mental health for incarcerated individuals, with tracked referrals for continuing treatment following incarceration. Career training and transition programs are critical to reduce rates of recidivism.

Section: Health and Human Rights – The next set of questions asks for your views on topics related to health and human rights.

Q26: Do you support the overturning of Roe v. Wade? (Respond Yes/No)

No

Q27: Please explain your support for, or opposition to, the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

I support women’s rights for safe abortion access. I also support school curriculums that provide age-appropriate instruction on sex education that is not based on “abstinence only”.

Q28: Do you support Utah’s trigger law (SB174) that would ban abortion with limited exceptions for rape, incest, and the health of the pregnant person? https://le.utah.gov/~2020/bills/static/SB0174.html (Respond Yes/No)

No

Q29: Please explain your support for, or opposition to, Utah’s trigger law (SB174). https://le.utah.gov/~2020/bills/static/SB0174.html

We need to stop legislating women’s bodies. Abortion is medical care.

Q30: Do you support Utah’s ban (HB136) on elective abortions after 18 weeks of pregnancy that went into effect after the overturning of Roe v. Wade? https://le.utah.gov/~2019/bills/static/HB0136.html (Respond Yes/No)

No

Q31: Do you believe the decision about whether to have an abortion should belong solely to the person who is pregnant? (Respond Yes/No)

Yes

Q32: In situations where abortion is illegal, which of the following people, if any, do you think should face penalties? (Select all that apply)

  • The person who had the abortion
  • The doctor/provider who performed the abortion
  • The person who helped pay for the abortion
  • The person who helped find or schedule the abortion
  • None of the above (x)
  • Other (explain): (x) Abortion is women’s health. It is a medical procedure carried out between a woman and her doctor. Travel (including interstate travel) should not be prosecuted. Laws in other states that penalize women, systems of support or health care providers should not be legally recognized in Utah.

Q33: Which of the following sexual and reproductive health measures do you support? (Select all that apply)

  • Comprehensive sex education (x)
  • Access to low or no cost contraception (i.e., birth control) (x)
  • Access to low or no cost emergency contraception (i.e., “morning-after pills”, emergency IUDs) (x)
  • Extending Medicaid coverage to postpartum people beyond 60 days (x)
  • Expanding the Child Tax Credit (x) – see https://utahchildren.org/newsroom/speaking-of-kids-blog/item/1219-utah-child-tax-credit
  • Expanding access to paid family leave (x)
  • Other (explain): (x) Remove funding restrictions for charitable organizations, specifically Planned Parenthood.

Q34: On the final day of the 2022 Legislative Session, lawmakers passed a last-minute amendment to HB11 banning transgender girls from participating in school sports that match their gender identity. Although Governor Cox vetoed the bill, the legislature voted to override the veto. HB11 now faces almost certain legal challenges to its constitutionality. Would you support efforts to repeal HB11 in its entirety? (Respond Yes/No)

Yes

Q35: Please explain your answer to the previous question regarding efforts to repeal of HB11.

A similar question was asked in the “Black Lives Matter Utah Chapter – Education in Utah Survey”. Legislators should not be legislating gender identity, and the bill should be struck down as unconstitutional. For reference, policy was updated in the Utah High School Athletics Association handbook in 2020-2021 and going forward (https://uhsaa.org/Publications/Handbook/Handbook.pdf). Equality Utah supports this policy as equal treatment. See https://www.equalityutah.org/youth-laws.

Q36: Do you think that fossil fuels cause climate change? (Respond Yes/No)

Yes

Q37: If elected, what action will you take to divest from fossil fuels?

  • Utah recently announced its selection by the IOC for the 2034 Winter Olympics, but the announcement comes with a mandate to improve air quality before we host this international event. Inversions mean that Utah has some of the worst air quality in the nation, and this affects everyone who lives here. Staged, multi-year legislation to reduce traffic, promote remote work, improve public transportation, implement stricter emission regulations on vehicles and commercial production are all necessary.
  • We need to embrace clean energy, and that means investing in the development of clean energy technologies as well as producing jobs to replace economies built on fossil fuel industry.

Q38: Is there anything else you would like us to know? We appreciate your attention to these serious matters which so deeply affect the lives of so many.