Furthermore, additional areas of policy that are not currently part of BPD policies could add value to the BPD, increase accountability, and build trust and legitimacy in the community.' On the key question of whether there was any racial bias to be found in the policies and procedures of the Bennington Police Department, the IACP determined that 'policies appear neutral but the lack of policy in other areas may lead to bias in implementation of the current policies. The IACP is accepting questions and comments at or at determination The Select Board has scheduled a May 4 meeting to review the report's recommendations.

The presentation is available for viewing through the CAT-TV website and its Facebook page, with a link provided on the town's website. The report, commissioned by the town in August on the recommendation of Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan, was released on Monday. At the same time, they argued that the report 'sidesteps available data and analysis showing pronounced racial disparities in BPD traffic stops and makes no mention of multiple Vermont Supreme Court decisions concerning unlawful BPD traffic stops of Black motorists.' The report 'catalogues numerous deficiencies in BPD - which has long faced complaints of biased policing and is the subject of an ACLU racial profiling lawsuit,' the statement reads. In a joint statement, Tabitha Moore, NAACP state director, and James Lyall, ACLU of Vermont executive director, gave support to the creation of a civilian oversight board, one of about 25 recommendations included in the 55-page report by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. BENNINGTON - The state branches of the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP on Friday said a report released this week on Bennington Police Department policies and procedures describes 'a department that is badly out of step with best practices and deeply mistrusted by Bennington community members,' and offered to work with the town in making changes.

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