ACLU affiliates receive hundreds of civilian complaints of police misconduct every year, ranging from verbal abuse to inappropriate use of lethal force. But that does not mean there has been no progress. In communities across the country, people have organized to bring about change. The most promising kinds of reform are based on the concept of civilian oversight of the police. In a democracy, the people must have control over those they empower to employ deadly force.
Every citizen is entitled to effective, and humane , law enforcement.