News releases & statements
CPE’s white paper offers five recommendations for communities to adopt to restrict or eliminate the use of harmful gang databases and gang classifications that undermine public safety.
CPE’s white paper offers five recommendations for communities to adopt to restrict or eliminate the use of harmful gang databases and gang classifications that undermine public safety.
CPE Publishes White Paper on the Harms of Gang Databases and Immigration Enforcement Read More
We at the Center for Policing Equity join the nation in mourning the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson, a giant of the Civil Rights movement and a tireless champion for justice, equity, and the dignity of all people. Reverend Jackson’s legacy is woven into the fabric of our collective struggle for a more just and equitable society, and his unwavering commitment to nonviolent advocacy, economic equity, and systemic change has inspired generations. Rev. Jackson’s lifelong pursuit of freedom—through protest, policy, and partnership—reminds us that the fight against racism and inequity is neither easy nor complete. His courage in the face of adversity, his compassion for the marginalized, and his belief in the transformative power of community continue to light our path forward. As we reflect on his profound impact, CPE remains committed to advancing the cause he so fearlessly championed. We extend our deepest condolences to Rev. Jackson’s family, loved
Center for Policing Equity Statement on the Passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson Read More
The tragic death of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, at the hands of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents, has once again plunged our community into mourning. Pretti was fatally shot on Saturday, January 24th, while lawfully recording immigration enforcement operations in a commercial district of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Multiple bystander video recordings show federal officers approaching, physically assaulting, and subduing him before shooting him multiple times at close range. The incident escalated after Pretti, a VA Hospital employee, intervened to assist two women who were being confronted by federal officers. Notably, Pretti was legally carrying a concealed, holstered firearm for which he possessed a valid permit. Despite the administration’s claims that he approached federal officers with a handgun, footage shows that his weapon remained holstered and out of sight. He was only carrying a cell phone. This incident is not isolated. On January 7th, a federal officer
CPE Statement on the Fatal Shooting of Minneapolis Observer Alex Jeffrey Pretti Read More
Minneapolis is grieving once again because a member of its community has been killed through unnecessary violence by someone acting under color of law. A U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good, is dead after being shot by a federal immigration enforcement officer. The most surprising aspect of it is that it took this long for federal actions to be so visibly lethal. What compounds this tragedy is not only the loss of life, but the speed with which familiar and dangerous narratives have emerged to excuse it before any investigations have even begun. We are already hearing that this is a lesson in why people should not “provoke,” should not “obstruct,” should not assert their rights in moments of fear. This logic is not merely wrong; it is deadly. It suggests that exercising constitutionally protected rights, or reacting with fear to armed state agents—who the Vice President of the United States
CEO Statement on ICE Murder in Minneapolis Read More
On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old American citizen, was shot and killed by a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a protest against the largest federal immigration enforcement deployment to date. Good, a mother of three, was present as a legal observer. According to reports, Good was murdered in her vehicle as she attempted to drive away. ICE officer Jonathan Ross fired three shots at Good, causing her to lose control of her car. The killing of an American citizen while exercising her right to protest is horrific, and, tragically, entirely predictable given months of escalating rhetoric, fear-mongering, and aggressive immigration enforcement tactics under the Trump Administration. Moreover, we find ourselves in the constant flow of premature discourse and ambitious analyses, multiple cellphone videos, conflicting perspectives, and devastated families and loved ones after an unnecessary tragedy— none of this is
CPE Statement on the Homicide of Minneapolis Protester Renee Nicole Good Read More
Using a novel database, CPE’s data brief analyzes 216 alternative response programs across the country and offers a starting point for local leaders to innovate new, community-centric models of public safety. In the aftermath of several high-profile police killings, alternative response programs (ARPs) such as Oregon’s CAHOOTS program and Denver STAR have grown in popularity, but gaps in information about scale, reach, and program design make it difficult to replicate areas of success and to mitigate challenges. The Center for Policing Equity’s (CPE) new data brief, Nonpolice Alternative Response Programs Across the United States: A National Portrait, offers one of the first overviews of ARPs to help local leaders, researchers, and other decision-makers lay the groundwork for future innovation and expansion of ARPs that are responsive to community needs and values. CPE analyzed 216 ARPs spanning 40 states using a novel database of program characteristics including cities and counties served,
CPE’s white paper offers four strategies LEAs and communities can adopt to assert autonomy over their public safety systems and protect vulnerable community members. Los Angeles, CA — Recent federal tactics have put local law enforcement agencies (LEAs) under enormous pressure to comply with immigration enforcement efforts, with potentially serious consequences for public safety. In the Center for Policing Equity’s (CPE) new white paper titled, Cooperation Between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, we assess where collaboration between LEAs and ICE is required and where it is not, and propose four evidence-based strategies LEAs can adopt to push back against federal attempts to commandeer local resources. Fear of losing funding and other repercussions can lead LEAs to cooperate with ICE beyond what is required by law. This not only erodes trust with communities — potentially suppressing crime reporting and diminishing due process protections —
Research spanning nearly two decades reveals stark racial disparities and underscores urgent need for data-driven public safety reform. New Haven, CT – The Center for Policing Equity (CPE) has released a new national study titled Racial and Ethnic Inequalities for Nonfatal Legal Intervention Injuries Treated in US Emergency Departments. Authored by CPE staff members Dr. Mina Kim, Postdoctoral Research Fellow; Dr. Phillip Atiba Solomon, CEO and Co-Founder; and Dr. Justin Feldman, Principal Research Scientist, the study examines nearly two decades of emergency department data revealing that injuries inflicted by law enforcement represent a major, ongoing public health concern — and a significant driver of racial health inequities in the United States. While fatal police encounters often dominate headlines, the study finds that nonfatal injuries caused by police are far more common, with an estimated 1.5 million emergency department visits for “legal intervention injuries” between 2004 and 2021. The findings suggest
Los Angeles, CA — October 16, 2025 — For decades, the U.S. has treated gun violence like a criminal issue —not a public health crisis. A new report from the Center for Policing Equity (CPE) argues that it’s time to change that. “Community Solutions to Prevent Gun Violence: Strengthening Research and Evaluation to Build Safer Neighborhoods” explores how evidence-based community-driven strategies are saving lives and rebuilding trust — and why they’re at risk of disappearing just when they’re needed most. As federal funding wanes with Department of Justice cuts, the expiration of these initiatives hangs in the balance. Without sustained investment, programs proven to prevent shootings and interrupt cycles of harm could be forced to shut down. CPE’s report highlights: Why policing cannot be the primary response to a crisis rooted in inequity and trauma. How Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiatives (CVIPI) offer a comprehensive, compassionate alternative. What’s needed