Governor Chris Sununu Establishes Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community, and Transparency

Concord, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu signed Executive order 2020-11, an order establishing the New Hampshire Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community, and Transparency.
 
“New Hampshire finds itself in a pivotal moment that demands prompt action to initiate important conversations and develop recommendations for reform,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “The state has an obligation to participate in the national conversation and engage in self-examination to identify any opportunities to improve the state of our law enforcement and the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve, and I would like to thank the members of this commission for agreeing to serve.”
 

The members of the commission will consist of the following:

• The Attorney General, or designee, who shall chair the Commission
• The Commissioner of the Department of Safety, or designee
• The Executive Director of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights
• The Director of the Police Standards and Training Council
• The Chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion
• The President of the Manchester, NH NAACP
• A current justice of the New Hampshire Superior or Circuit Court, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor
• A representative of the New Hampshire Police Association, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor
• The President of the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police
• The Executive Director of the New Hampshire Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness
• A representative from the New Hampshire ACLU, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor
• Two members of the public, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor

The Commission will engage all interested and relevant public, private, and community stakeholders and develop recommendations for reforms that the Commission deems necessary to enhance transparency, accountability, and community relations in law enforcement. To fulfill this charge, the Commission will examine the following:
 

1. Training curriculum, procedures and policies developed by State Police, local police departments, and the Police Standards and Training Council, and potential options for improving the same to better address certain areas which may include, but are not limited to, (i) de-escalation, (ii) use of deadly and non-deadly force force, and (iii) diversity training;
2. State and local procedures related to the reporting and investigation of police misconduct, and potential reforms which may include, but are not limited to, development of a uniform statewide system for the reporting, investigation, and punishment of police misconduct;
3. The current state of relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, and potential steps that can be taken to enhance these relationships; and
4. Any other subject matter which the Commission deems relevant to the overall mission of enhancing transparency, accountability, and community relations in law enforcement.

The Commission will have 45 days to submit a report containing its recommendations to the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate. The Commission’s report will be posted publicly on the Governor’s Office website.

• Executive Order 2020-11 - An order establishing the New Hampshire Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community, and Transparency