Mayor Yvonne Spicer and the city’s Board of Health declared racism a public health crisis on Tuesday amid nationwide protests calling for racial equity and police reform following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
Spicer paired the declaration with an order requiring the Framingham Police Department to immediately institute a series of policy changes known as “8 Can’t Wait,” which police reform advocates say greatly reduce police violence.
In declaring racism a public health crisis, Spicer and the Board of Health cited Framingham Health Department data showing a stark difference in how the coronavirus has impacted city residents.
According to city data, infection rates among Black and Hispanic residents are roughly triple the rate of infection among white residents. The order notes that infection rates among non-whites would likely be even higher, “except many residents of Brazilian descent describe themselves as white.”
The declaration is accompanied by an order requiring all city divisions to work with the mayor’s office and Health Department to “dismantle systemic racism.”
To do that, division heads must identify policies that could lead to inequitable health outcomes among Framingham residents; engage with historically marginalized communities; document and publish race and ethnicity data; and develop direct service programs that address the negative impact of racial inequity in the city, among other requirements.
The order related to Framingham’s police, issued jointly with Police Chief Steven Trask, requires the department to undertake and complete a review of use-of-force policies, create a report and issue further recommended changes to department policies within 60 days.
In creating the report, Framingham police will be required to hold public meetings with residents and evaluate recent suggestions made by the Framingham Police Officers Union to expand a jail diversion program, create neighborhood outreach units and regularly train officers in “reality-based” de-escalation, racial bias and use of force.
According to Public Information Officer Kelly McFalls, Framingham police already practice all of the “8 Can’t Wait” policies, but Tuesday’s order will compel the department to put the policies in writing.
McFalls said reforms included in the order that are not currently written police policy in Framingham are:
McFalls said reforms included in the order that are currently written Framingham police policy are:
Spicer said she will continue to meet with both police officers and the public to discuss “common-sense reforms to change the societal dynamic” and improve the relationship between law enforcement and residents.
“Our community is ready to move forward and lead the way to confront the issue of police violence and its tragic legacy in our country head-on with community-based solutions,” Spicer said in a statement. “I am pleased with the thoughtful and receptive response we have received from the outstanding officers of the Framingham Police Department who are fully onboard and enthusiastic partners.”
In a recent panel discussion, Spicer said she has no plans to defund the Police Department. Protesters nationwide have made calls to “defund police” and divert at least some funding from police budgets to underfunded social services that could better help residents.
“I think we use our resources well in the Police Department,” Spicer said last week. “I think in many ways we have used our resources to do some community work that would not have been able to happen if we didn’t have those resources.”