News & Commentary
ACLU-SDIC Testimony – San Diego City Council Considers Whether to Continue Surveillance Use Policies
By Blair Overstreet
Protecting Public Safety Doesn't Mean Sacrificing Civil Liberties
Police have the vital and difficult job of protecting public safety. Performing this job effectively does not require sacrificing civil liberties. All California police agencies need to respect the rights of individuals while enforcing the law. And when allegations of misconduct arise, there must be policies and mechanisms to hold police accountable for their actions.
The ACLU Defends Rights of Police Officers
The ACLU is well known for its vigorous efforts to combat police misconduct, but not generally recognized for its legal advocacy on behalf of police officers. Because we sometimes need to criticize the misconduct of some police officers and departments, the ACLU is thought to be “anti-cop” in some quarters. This is ironic. We are often in the position of promoting good policing, which necessitates pointing out instances in which police officers or departments have violated the community trust. We strongly believe that police are entitled to constitutional protections just as the rest of us are. They can also have their rights violated like the rest of us.
The ACLU regularly defends officers whose rights to free expression are denied or violated.
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