Tell Congress to reinstate the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD)

Take Action: Tell Congress to reinstate the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD)

URGENT! President Trump rescinded an executive order that created the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD), a database that helped ensure that officers with a history of misconduct and mistreatment of civilians were held accountable.

The removal of this database by the Department of Justice is a dangerous move that weakens police accountability and transparency! Without it, police officers with problematic histories can move easily between police departments without any background checks.

Congress must take action to restore this critical tool and help prevent senseless deaths within our communities at the hands of problematic police officers and law enforcement.

Take action and Tell Congress to reinstate the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD)

Dear Member of Congress:

In response to President Trump's rescinding of an executive order establishing the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD), the Department of Justice (DOJ) shut down a federal database that provided background information and tracked police misconduct. NLEAD was created to protect communities from officers with a history of misconduct and mistreatment of civilians. The National Law Enforcement Database is an important accountability tool that prevents officers who demonstrate a pattern of misconduct from moving easily between police departments.

The decision to shut down the federal database eliminates a critical tool for identifying and tracking discrimination—including gender-based and racial discrimination- and violence— including physical, sexual, psychological violence, and harassment—from all law enforcement. This move is a step backward in building public trust.

Horrific stories of the recent past, including the senseless killings of Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, and Eric Garner, show us how important this database is. Each of the victims mentioned died at the hands of police officers who had histories of troubling and inappropriate behavior, all including complaints of unnecessary use of excessive force. Had there been a nationwide database to keep this important information, it could have flagged these officers’ past actions and provided insight as to whether or not they should continue employment in law enforcement altogether.

With trust in police at an all-time low, it is essential to ensure that officers who engage in a pattern of misconduct are not allowed to bounce from police department to police department. More accountability rather than less is what keeps communities safe from these bad actors. Today, we ask that you take immediate action to reinstate the NLEAD and ensure that officers with histories of misconduct cannot move between departments without a background check.

Thank you,

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