WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is the world’s largest membership organization of police executives that provides the professional voice of law enforcement and is comprised of numerous agencies that serve jurisdictions including closed communities such as military installations, university, and college campuses; and

WHEREAS, the impact of gender-based violence including but not limited to sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, stalking, sexual-based harassment, and strangulation on military installations and university and college campuses impacts the psychological and emotional well-being of victims and corrupts the safety and security of these communities; and

WHEREAS, military, university and college campus law enforcement leaders must clearly establish community trust and effectively and comprehensively respond to reports of gender-based violence by supporting a victim-centered approach toward those who experience gender-based violence and a perpetrator-focused investigation to hold those who commit these offenses accountable; and

WHEREAS, the military, and university and college campuses largely comprise similar demographics (particularly age range) and are linked in how they support social development, socialization, and integration within each respective culture and environment; and

WHEREAS, the reporting of gender-based violence on military installations1 universities and college campuses is extremely low due to many factors,2 some of which include the trauma and blame victims may experience;3the fear of retribution and/or punishment by the perpetrator, supervisor, peers, and/or the criminal justice system; and the victim’s concern that they may not be believed or even blamed for the act;4 and

WHEREAS, perpetrators of gender-based violence may be predatory and serial in nature, target victims, and employ a variety of tactics to create victim vulnerabilities sometimes facilitated with alcohol and drugs. They may isolate victims; use implied or overt threats, coercion, and stalking tactics; commit additional crimes of gender-based violence; and use other behaviors to control victims;5 and

WHEREAS, military, university, and college campus law enforcement leaders must identify and implement the use of innovative tools and resources to effectively and collaboratively respond to gender-based violence; develop strong, comprehensive response and investigative policies and procedures; provide current and comprehensive training and education on gender-based violence to all department members and investigative personnel; create/collaborate with multidisciplinary partnerships; and provide victims of gender-based violence with resources, access to support, and a professional response; and

WHEREAS these four sections and committees commit to addressing gender-based violence in a meaningful way to include sharing information, resources, and best practices, educating local policing agencies, the development of memoranda of understanding, creating a working group with members of each of the four named sections and committees, and developing joint training programs. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP calls upon law enforcement leadership in the military, universities, and colleges to partner with international, local, and state law enforcement to prioritize efforts to address gender-based violence and strengthen the response to these crimes that occur in these communities; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP fully supports the continued partnerships and collaborations among the military, university, college, international, local, county, state, and federal policing agencies who are required to ensure the safety and security of our communities and hold perpetrators of gender-based violence accountable in order to best serve those service members, civilian employees, students, faculty, and staff who place their trust in these institutions.

Submitted by: Defense Chiefs of Police Section, University &College Police Section, Victim Services Committee, and Civil Law Enforcement/Military Cooperation Committee

DEF.22.19

1 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Sexual Assault in the Military (2013),  https://www.usccr.gov/pubs/docs/09242013_Statutory_Enforcement_Report_Sexual_Assault_in_the_Military.pdf.

2 Sexual Violence on Campus, prepared for U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill by the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Financial & Contracting Oversight – Majority Staff (2014), http://dcrcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Sen.-McCaskills-Sexual-Violence-   on-Campus-Survey-Report1.pdf.

3 Bonnie Fisher, Francis Cullen, and Michael Turner, The Sexual Victimization of College Women (Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, December 2000) https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf.

4 Michael Planty et al., Female Victims of Sexual Violence, 1994-2010 (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, March 2013), http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/fvsv9410.pdf.

5 David Lisak, “Understanding the Predatory Nature of Sexual Violence,” Government Innovators Network (2008),   https://www.innovations.harvard.edu/understanding-predatory-nature-sexual-violence.

WHEREAS, the use of user and provider-controlled forms of strong encryption applied to communications in transmission and to data storage devices, although simultaneously serving to help prevent certain types of crimes and preserve privacy, has also, with increased frequency, been implemented in such a manner as to significantly degrade the ability of law enforcement worldwide to detect and prevent serious crime before it occurs, as well as inhibit the identification of those responsible for crimes already committed; and

WHEREAS, the expanding implementation of user-only access encryption, in addition to enhancing privacy generally, is also specifically facilitating criminal activity worldwide by ensuring that evidence of crime is beyond the reach of law enforcement despite compliance with legal requirements that authorize the lawful seizure and use of such evidence and information in accordance with the applicable laws of each nation; and

WHEREAS, the expanding implementation of user-only access encryption may be seen by some in the industry as a means of plausibly denying knowledge of and responsibility for the use of their services or devices by criminals, terrorists, and spies so as to potentially obviate any legal obligation to stop or mitigate such harms; and

WHEREAS, it is recognized that providers who implement end-to-end encryption are also under economic pressure to compete with other international providers on a level playing field and that, currently, few governments mandate lawful access to encrypted information in an intelligible format thereby arguably placing those industry providers that voluntarily implement lawful access capabilities at a competitive disadvantage; and

WHEREAS, it is recognized that no one technological solution or process is likely to resolve the myriad of technical applications of encryption and that industry providers are in the best position to determine for each application a workable solution that meets their needs and the needs of their customers while still maintaining lawful access to encrypted information upon due process of law; and

WHEREAS, the IACP has previously noted in its Resolution of November 10, 2010, entitled “Address the Growing Electronic Surveillance Capability Gap” that advances in telecommunications technologies are creating a lawful access capability gap that should be addressed by remedial legislation in the United States to update the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (CALEA); and

WHEREAS, the United States Attorney General, the United Kingdom Secretary of State for the Home Department, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (acting) and the Australian Minister for Home Affairs, in an open letter dated 4 October 2019 to the Chief Executive Officer of Facebook, called upon Facebook and other companies to: embed the safety of the public in system designs, thereby enabling you to continue to act against illegal content effectively with no reduction to safety, and facilitating the prosecution of offenders and safeguarding victims; and enable law enforcement to obtain lawful access to content in a readable and usable format. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP strongly urges all world governments to adopt appropriate regulation or legislation that will compel industry providers to responsibly implement for themselves encryption technologies in a manner that maintains reasonable privacy protections for individuals while securely and timely permitting lawful access to communications and communication-related information in transmission, as well as other information in digital storage, and in an intelligible format pursuant to the legal requirements of each nation and due process of law.

Submitted by: Police Investigative Operations Committee and Computer Crimes & Digital Evidence Committee

PIO.23.19

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), led by the Division of State and Provincial Police, State Associations of Chiefs of Police, and the Roadway Safety Committee, recognize law enforcement leaders have an obligation to work together to reduce highway fatalities; and

WHEREAS, in 2018 over 36,000 lives were lost on our highways due to traffic-related crashes and highway fatalities; and

WHEREAS, in an effort to safeguard the public as well as first responders and other emergency personnel whose duties require them to utilize the roadside, the Division of State and Provincial Police, State Associations of Chiefs of Police, and Roadway Safety Committee, will lead an effort to reduce highway fatalities by 15% in 2019 through the Drive to Save Lives/Drive to Zero campaign; and

WHEREAS, the success of this campaign will be achieved by committing to data-driven enforcement focusing on seat belt usage, speed enforcement, and targeting impaired and distracted driving. The campaign will also include enforcement actions against the unsafe driving behaviors of the operators of large trucks and buses; and

WHEREAS, this will be accomplished through educational and awareness programs, such as the Drive to Save Lives/Drive to Zero campaign and the nationwide Move Over campaign, high-visibility traffic enforcement, and the commitment to strengthening partnerships at all levels. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED that the IACP supports the effort of the Drive to Save Lives/Drive to Zero campaign; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED the Drive to Save Lives/Drive to Zero campaign is a multiyear, ongoing effort by state and police and highway patrols, county sheriffs, and municipal police agencies, to prevent the needless deaths that occur on roadways each year.

Submitted by: IACP Division of State & Provincial Police, State Associations of Chiefs of Police, and Roadway Safety Committee

SP.24.19

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police are concerned with the safety of law enforcement officers, firefighters, utility workers, and other emergency personnel as they perform their duties on roadways; and

WHEREAS, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, over the last 10 full calendar years, 81 law enforcement officers, 16% of all “United States officers accidentally killed” were victims of struck-by-vehicle incidents, i.e., at the time of their deaths they were conducting traffic stops, roadblocks, directing traffic or assisting motorists, or were engaged in similar activities; and

WHEREAS, 12 of 27 officers who have been “accidentally killed” in 2019 were killed in vehicle struck-by- incidents;

WHEREAS, in an effort to safeguard law enforcement officers, firefighters, utility workers, and other emergency personnel whose duties require them to utilize the roadside, all 50 states have enacted Move Over legislation that typically requires motorists to either change lanes or slow down when approaching a law enforcement or emergency services vehicle that is parked or stopped on the roadside; and

WHEREAS, the effectiveness of this legislation in every state is compromised by motorists’ being unaware of the existence of these statutes, as is demonstrated by a national poll sponsored by the National Safety Commission, in 2007, that found that 71% of U.S. residents had not heard of such legislation. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police support the increased enforcement of Move Over legislation; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police support international efforts to ensure the roadside safety of law enforcement officers, firefighters, utility workers, and other emergency personnel in countries around the world.

Submitted by: Highway Safety Committee

HSC.25.19

WHEREAS, law enforcement executives continue to be alarmed by the magnitude of firearms that are being reported stolen (estimated at 380,000 per year in the United States) which become easily accessible to and used by criminals placing both citizens and law enforcement officers at great danger; and

WHEREAS, according to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), during the four-year period from 2012 to 2016, 22,000 guns were stolen from gun stores and during this same period robberies of firearms dealers increased by 175% and burglaries of firearms from licensed dealers by 48%, and these crimes are providing the greatest opportunity for thieves to choose their weapons of choice (to include assault rifles and high-powered handguns) at large quantities in one criminal act; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement executives are also alarmed by the number of citizens killed and wounded by firearms as well as the number of officers killed in the line of duty by gunfire; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement executives are alarmed by the growth of and manner in which criminals are stealing firearms from licensed firearms dealers; and

WHEREAS, the IACP has found that law enforcement executives in every part of the United States have expressed concern at the quickness at which stolen firearms are trafficked after the theft into the hands of criminals, terrorists, and other prohibited persons; and

WHEREAS, study and investigation by the IACP’s Firearms Committee has shown that three strategies must be present to thwart firearms thefts from dealers effectively: prevention, intervention, and enforcement; and

WHEREAS, prevention and intervention strategies are dependent upon having engaged firearms dealers with an adequate security plan and systems to protect their stores as well as established partnerships with local law enforcement in their communities and ATF; and

WHEREAS, deterring and apprehending gun store thieves and robbers is predicated on having adequate security measures and systems that will make it extremely difficult for them to steal firearms, have the capability of notifying law enforcement when a theft/robbery is in-progress, video record the theft/robbery event, and expand the duration of time it takes for thefts to transpire thereby providing law enforcement additional response time; and

WHEREAS, examination of gun store burglaries found that enactment of mandatory legislation by states that require licensed gun dealers to have an approved security plan in place in order to sell firearms has shown to reduce thefts to almost none; and

WHEREAS, study and investigation by the IACP’s Firearms Committee found that model legislation should include the following:

• A required “security plan” that must be approved by a designated law enforcement agency
• Storage of all firearms in a “secure facility” that is part of, or constitutes, the license premises to include
  • hardened perimeter doorways; windows; and heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and service openings;
  • metal or concrete vehicle barriers placed opposite exterior doors;
  • an alarm system designated to activate audible alarm as well as automatically transmitting an alert to central location and/or police department;
  • a video camera system; and
  • internal security of firearms and ammunition.

Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police calls upon all 50 states to bring the issue of stolen firearms and in particular burglaries, thefts, and robberies from licensed gun dealers that are commercial retail establishments to a high-priority level as a commitment to combating and decreasing gun violence; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police urges every state to enact legislation that has shown to be effective regarding the mandating of a “security plan and system” for every licensed firearm dealer within their jurisdictions and that such legislation is in the best interest of public and officer safety.

WHEREAS, Section 6103 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Title VI of Pub. L. 112-96) mandates the Federal Communications Commission begin an auction of the T-Band spectrum in the 470-512 MHz band allocated to public safety by February 21, 2021, and clear public safety users from the band within two years of auction close; and

WHEREAS, the T-Band spectrum is available for public safety use within a 50-mile radius of the following metropolitan centers: Boston; Dallas; Chicago; Houston; Los Angeles; Miami; Pittsburgh; New York City; Philadelphia; Washington, DC; and San Francisco; and

WHEREAS, the public safety community in a number of these areas has spent many years and millions in federal, state and local taxpayer funds to deploy hardened public safety T-Band networks to meet the mission critical voice requirements specific to each area; and

WHEREAS, these urban areas face threats for which expeditious communications is essential to protect both public safety personnel and the general public; and

WHEREAS, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), of which IACP is a governing board member, conducted comprehensive studies and issued reports that address the significant negative impact of requiring public safety to relocate out of the T-Band, as required in Section 6103; and

WHEREAS, the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act (H.R. 451), a bill to repeal the Section 6103 auction and public safety relocation requirements was introduced in Congress in January 2019; and a companion in Senate Bill S. 2748; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has studied the T-Band issue and issued its report GAO-19-508 in June 2019 entitled “Required Auction of Public Safety Spectrum Could Harm First Responders;” and

WHEREAS, the GAO report concluded that the methodology and conclusions from the NPSTC report are reasonable; and

WHEREAS, the GAO report recommended that “Congress should consider legislation allowing public safety users continued use of the T-Band spectrum.”1 Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) supports the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act (H.R. 451) and Senate Bill S.2748 and the passage of legislation this year consistent with H.R. 451 and S. 2748 to repeal Section 6103 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Title VI of Pub. L. 112-96).

Submitted by: Communications & Technology Committee

CTC.27.19

1 U.S. Government Accountability Office, Required Auction of Public Safety Spectrum Could Harm First Responders (2019), 25,   https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/699916.pdf.

WHEREAS, 911 serves a critical role as the “universal emergency number”1 and is recognized as critical infrastructure to our nation’s homeland security; and

WHEREAS, 911 has minimally evolved over the last 50 years and has failed to keep pace with modern,2 mainstream communication tools regularly used by the public; and

WHEREAS, wireless devices are owned by over 96% of all Americans;3 many existing 911 systems cannot leverage mainstream communication protocols, such as text, picture and video messaging, livestream video, connected apps, social media, sensors, or emerging internet of things (IoT) devices, which provide robust reporting options during an emergency; and

WHEREAS, the IACP support federal proposed legislation, such as H.R.1629 – 911 Saves Act; S. 1015 – Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act of 2019 and House Resolution 2760 – Next Generation 9-1-1 Act of 2019; and

WHEREAS, Next Generation 911 (NG911) technology allows for emergency communications centers to transition from the traditional voice environment leveraging broadband-enabled, IP-based environment, expanding and enhancing services to the public through receipt of pictures, video and other non-voice communications including telematics reporting through 911;4 and

WHEREAS, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and 911 outages have demonstrated that a concerned public will activate any and all alternative data-driven emergency reporting channels when traditional 911 voice calling methods are insufficient, creating overwhelmed 911 centers currently ill-equipped to receive non-voice communications; and

WHEREAS, geospatial routing available with NG911 transitions wireless 911 calls from cell sector routing to device location routing,5 a critical component in determining the most accurate location to send first responders during an emergency; and

WHEREAS, NG911 technology provides resiliency, redundancy, and more efficient capabilities that can provide first responders with more timely and actionable information during emergencies; and

WHEREAS, the IP-enabled network of NG911 increases resiliency, flexibility, and redundancy through interconnectivity and interoperability, ensuring the maximum reliability and availability of the U.S. emergency 911 system; and

WHEREAS, the NET911 Improvement Act of 2008 called for a nationwide migration to NG911,6 creating an opportunity for interoperability between emergency response agencies, and ensuring a consistent level of upgrades across the United States in rural, urban, large, and small agencies;7 and

WHEREAS, NG911 provides a complementary emergency communications framework with FirstNet, the wireless broadband network for first responders, and strengthens the multi-discipline operational and technical capabilities required to face tomorrow’s complexities. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) endorses the need to modernize all legacy 911 emergency communications critical infrastructure and migrate emergency communications systems to Next Generation 911 technology.

Submitted by: Communications & Technology Committee

CTC.28.19

1 NENA, “Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus,” https://www.nena.org/page/NextGen911Caucus.

2 APCO et al., “Letter to the Leadership of the Congress of the United States,” March 20, 2018,

https://www.apcointl.org/download/associations-letter-to-congressional-leadership-re-ng911/?wpdmdl=6009.

3 Pew Research Center, “Mobile Fact Sheet,” June 12, 2019, https://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheet/mobile; Laura Silver, Smartphone Ownership Is Growing Rapidly Around the World, but Not Always Equally (Washington, DC: Pew Research Center, 2019), https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/02/05/smartphone-ownership-is-growing-rapidly-around-the-world-but-  not-always-equally.

4 911.gov, Next Generation 911 (NG911) Standards Identification and Analysis (2015),  https://www.911.gov/pdf/National_911_Program_NG911_Standards_Identification_Analysis_2015.pdf.

5 Arizona Department of Administration, Arizona 9-1-1 Program Assessment Final Report, prepared by Mission Critical Partners (2019), https://az911.gov/sites/default/files/media/Arizona_911%20Assessment%20Report_FINAL_082319_0.pdf.

6 New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008, Pub. L. 119-283 (2008),  https://www.congress.gov/110/plaws/publ283/PLAW-110publ283.pdf; NET 911 Improvement Act of 2008, H.R. 3403, 110th Cong. (2008), https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/hr3403/summary.

7 National E9-1-1 Implementation Coordination Office, A National Plan for Migrating to IP-Enabled 9-1-1 Systems (2009),   https://www.911.gov/pdf/National_E911_Implementation_Coordination_Office_National_Plan_Migrating_IP_Enabled_911_Sy  stems_2009.pdf.

WHEREAS, law enforcement requires reliable command and control structures to deploy resources, to communicate and share information securely, to mitigate risks and threats, and to respond to emergencies, and after-action reports at many recent all-hazard incidents continue to document communications gaps; and

WHEREAS, all public safety disciplines acknowledge the fire service’s leadership in developing National Incident Command System (NIMS), and Incident Command System (ICS), that have become the national model for organizing resources using older voice radio and voice telephone technology; and

WHEREAS, since adoption in 2007 of NIMS/ICS law enforcement has expanded non-voice communication beyond public safety networks, increasing dependence on commercial wireless networks operating on open architecture; injecting a risk of cyber-attack to systems, networks, and platforms; and requiring support staff with advanced information technical skills and cybersecurity abilities; and

WHEREAS, most police agencies lack staff with specialized, perishable skills on information technology (IT) and cybersecurity of non-voice wireless networks, therefore lacking staff to serve as Information Technology Services Unit Leaders (ITSL); and

WHEREAS, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with support of SAFECOM and National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC) assembled a consortium of subject matter experts known as Incident Communications Advisory Council (ICAC), which developed recommended changes to NIMS/ICS including adding positions, revising training curriculum, and re-alignment of communications, and Information Technology by adding a Services Unit, Branch or Section to ICS structure. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police supports the work of Incident Communications Advisory Council (ICAC) and agrees in concept with its final report to include

• Information Technology (IT) in Incident Command System (ICS)
• Creating an Information Technology Services Unit, Branch, or Section staffed by ITSL
• Elevating Communications Units and Information Technology within ICS structure to be a separate but equal unit within the Logistics Section; or
• Elevating the Communications Service Unit to a section with IT in that section; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that IACP supports the Incident Communications Advisory Council (ICAC) in its efforts to work through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to achieve the goal of recognizing Information Technology Services Unit and Communications Unit at elevated levels/stature within the Incident Command System (ICS) to reflect their unique and critical importance within ICS; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP recommends the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) review and bring about revisions to the Incident Command System (ICS) recommended by Incident Command Advisory Council (ICAC), including creating an Information Technology Services Unit, and consider elevating the Communications Unit to a section thereby recognizing current technologies and cybersecurity threats and additionally to direct development of skills and training necessary to address all-hazards communication needs within the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

Submitted by: Communications & Technology Committee

CTC.29.19

To assist officers and their families, the IACP has developed a comprehensive Employee and Family Wellness Guide encompassing wellness resources on a variety of topics:

• Healthy sleep habits
• Nutritional needs
• Financial wellness
• Helping your young child understand your job
• Injury reduction
• Suicide prevention and mental health

Agencies may use this guide by:

• Adding contact information for local family wellness resources to include peer support, crisis lines, fitness, chaplaincy, and other programs.
• Co-branding the document by adding an agency logo.
• Selecting distribution preferences from the color or black and white options

The IACP and the COPS office are pleased to announce the release of the "How to Start a Law Enforcement Family Support Group: Insights and Considerations". This resource covers funding strategies, effective group structures, key partnerships, and more. Law enforcement families play a crucial role in the health and wellness of their officers, but it's just as important for families to have their own support and resources in place.

With funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, the IACP has partnered with the Education Development Center, Inc., and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention to convene the National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide (the Consortium).

Produced through the Consortium, Preventing Suicide Among Law Enforcement Officers: An Issue Brief outlines the current state of knowledge regarding suicide in law enforcement. The Issue Brief outlines risk and protective factors, challenges to suicide prevention, strategies and best practices, as well as existing knowledge gaps.

For more information on the National Officer Safety Initiatives, please click here. 

The monthly United States Line-of-Duty Deaths Report is a joint publication of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). IACP and ODMP are committed to honoring fallen law enforcement officers while also raising awareness about line-of-duty deaths, including related trends and causal factors.