OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE ETHICAL SOCIETY OF POLICE
People have tried to silence the Ethical Society of Police for decades, but we have seen time and again that progress is gained only when the truth of injustice sees the light of day. We are not a political organization or candidate. We are not afraid to call out discrimination, policies that we fear will harm our members, racism and all the other forms of injustice – even when that truth must be spoken to power. We speak for the voiceless, we speak for the passed-over, we speak for the communities often caught in the crossfire. Facing criticism and retaliation for speaking out is nothing new for our members and our board, past and present. We also believe in the right to respectfully disagree and will work with anyone who disagrees yet wants to hear all sides and shows concern for our communities. But we don’t take well to disrespect. The Ethical Society of Police won’t be “shut up” because that is abandoning those we serve.
About The Ethical Society of Police
The Ethical Society of Police (ESOP) was founded in 1972 by African-American officers to address race-based discrimination in the community and within the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. In 2018, the ESOP expanded to include membership for civilian and commissioned employees of law enforcement agencies within St. Louis County.
The Ethical Society of Police is an association of police officers and civilians whose mission is to bridge communications between the historically marginalized communities and law enforcement. The ESOP works to improve: community/police relations, develop policies and programs to reduce crime, elevate the status of minority civilians and police officers, encourage greater minority employment by law enforcement agencies, and increase professionalism in law enforcement. Membership is open to all races, nationalities, religions, political affiliations, sexual orientations and gender identities. For more information about the Ethical Society of Police, visit www.esopstl.org.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Rachel Brown
[email protected]
(O) 314-266-7035
(C) 314-210-4419