The Riverside Police Department joined NAACP and Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) in signing the organization's Ten Shared Principles.
"I am so pleased to be here to sign and commit my department to the Ten Shared Principles. All residents must come together to live in harmony, work together and walk together," Chief Weitzel said. The Ten Principles came out of the work with the ILACP.
"The historic set of Principles defines the behavior that all Illinoisans should expect when there is an encounter with police," Weitzel added. "By signing this, the Riverside Police Department is telling everyone we value life. By signing the document, I am telling Riverside that your police officers will live by these principles of trust, positive relationships and treating all people with dignity and respect.
The Ten Principles are built upon valuing the life of every person, treating all persons with dignity and respect, rejecting discrimination, building and rebuilding trust, upholding fairness and transparency, community partnerships, building strong relationships with communities of color, ensuring citizens have a better understanding of the law, supporting diversity in police departments and focusing on de-escalation training.
Ten Shared Principles