Across The Country, Voters Approve More Civilian Oversight For Police

Voters this week had their say on what police reform would look like, approving dozens of measures that will begin shaping policies at departments across the country.

Everything from restoring cash bail in California to ending stop-and-frisk policies in Philadelphia were considered. But by far the big winner Tuesday was the demand for accountability in the form of civilian police oversight.

This summer's historic protests across the country following the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others forced local and state lawmakers to confront policing policies.

None of the proposed measures on Tuesday's ballot called for "defunding the police" or dismantling police departments like many activists have demanded. Instead, the focus was on police oversight. Cities and counties in six states have now increased the authority of independent civilian groups to monitor and investigate police — often with the power to subpoena witnesses and documents.

It's a sign that the country is finally beginning to have a serious and much broader conversation about the police and public safety, says Yale University Law Professor Tracey Meares. Having that talk in a more holistic way is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.