Dear John,

As a LEAP supporter, you join a community that spans a wide range of political beliefs and perspectives on public safety and policing. While our views may differ, we are united by a commitment to evidence-based principles that strengthen accountability and trust. Foremost among these is the belief that when lethal force is used, the resulting investigation must be credible, independent, and transparent.

This morning, an article in The Hill reported on a letter organized by Law Enforcement Action Partnership and signed by more than 100 current and former law enforcement officials and judges. The letter was intentionally expanded beyond LEAP’s membership to reflect a broad professional consensus. The letter calls on the federal government to launch an independent review into the deaths of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, and to include state and local authorities in the process.

Our message is simple: accountability standards should apply consistently, no matter who is involved, because accountability is key to public trust, and public trust is necessary for law enforcement to be able to do our jobs.

The signatories are not trying to decide the facts of either case. That responsibility belongs to a thorough and unbiased investigation. But many in the law enforcement community are concerned that the current federal process excludes the very oversight mechanisms that are normally considered essential to credibility.

As the letter states:

“There is no legitimate reason to resist a truly independent investigation… a transparent and impartial process is the only way to assure the public that conclusions are based on evidence rather than predetermined narratives.”

This is not about politics. It is about professional standards. When investigations are conducted in ways that appear closed or one-sided, public trust suffers, and that affects officers, communities, and the justice system alike.

LEAP was proud to help bring together voices from across the law enforcement profession to call for a process that is credible, inclusive, and consistent with long-standing standards.

If you’d like to read the full article from The Hill, you can find it here.

Thank you for continuing to stand with us as we work to strengthen trust, accountability, and professionalism across the justice system.

In solidarity,

Lt. Diane Goldstein (Ret.), Executive Director
Law Enforcement Action Partnership