Embracing the Power of Intervention for Safer Communities

This article was written in collaboration with Timothy Murphy, General Counsel at Mastercard and Chair of the National Urban League.

The world has changed in the past few months with the tragic, unjustified police killings of Black Americans. The killings have sparked nationwide protests and public outcry to address police misconduct and racial inequities in American policing. 

Now more than ever, we need approaches that promote safe and effective police practices and contribute to stronger, more equitable communities. That’s why Verizon and Mastercard are supporting the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project, spearheaded by Georgetown University Law Center. ABLE teaches officers to be “active bystanders,” to intervene when fellow officers (including superiors) act inappropriately, and to prevent harm. 

We support reform of the criminal legal system, including policing, which disproportionately affects poor people, Black communities and other communities of color. It touches the lives of millions of Americans, including our employees and customers. In recent months, federal and state policymakers have drafted and passed numerous bills to combat police misconduct, racial bias in policing and more. These public policy initiatives are important to creating a more just and equitable system. But it takes time to enact laws. 

As we continue to support policymaker action on meaningful and necessary police reform, the training and cultural changes ABLE provides are a start and, more importantly, it is something we can do now. By providing law enforcement with the tools they need to intervene in challenging situations, we can prevent harm before it happens. ABLE is a win-win for communities and law enforcement. That’s why it enjoys the support of many civil rights leaders and law enforcement agencies.

Failing to act when we should is not unique to police officers. We are all passive bystanders at times, and we don’t take action when we wish we had. In a variety of contexts and particularly in organizations where hierarchy and loyalty are stressed, individuals often behave passively when witnessing harmful behavior. But people can be empowered to speak up, intervene and influence their peers to make good choices. We know this from the hard work we do with our colleagues to drive ethical, collaborative and purposeful cultures within our own companies.

Intervention can and must be taught. The officers in Minneapolis involved in the George Floyd case could have and should have intervened. Active bystandership training gives officers the tools they need to prevent overreactions, mistakes or misconduct by fellow officers, and is designed to create an environment where intervention is not only allowed but is encouraged, expected, and protected.

ABLE helps encourage the cultural change that makes active bystandership sustainable. It does so by requiring participating police departments to commit to certain standards, including the submission of support letters from community organizations, local officials and law enforcement leaders affirming that police departments applying for the program have demonstrated they are truly committed to self-improvement. Importantly, participating agencies must also adopt a strong anti-retaliation policy to ensure intervenors are not punished or ostracized. 

To date, more than 30 law enforcement agencies have been accepted into the ABLE Project, ensuring that tens of thousands of officers will be trained in this evidence-based skill. We believe that intervention training, and a culture that supports it, will greatly benefit police officers, their agencies and the communities they serve. 

Let’s invest in our communities and enable better policing. We urge our fellow business leaders to join us in supporting the expansion of ABLE. It’s time to act - together.

Craig Silliman, EVP & Chief Administrative, Legal & Public Policy Officer, Verizon

Tim Murphy, General Counsel, Mastercard and Chair, National Urban League