News Release: Head of National Black Police Association to challenge "Safe Homes" program of warrantless searches

On June 3, Ronald Hampton, the Executive Director of the National Black Police Association, will join advocates and community leaders to call for changes in the Boston Police Department's "Safe Homes" program of warrantless searches of homes. Hampton, who worked for over 24 years as a community police officer in Washington D.C., has been leading the opposition to a similar D.C. police initiative.

"From my own experience as a police officer, I know that Safe Homes is the opposite of a sound community-policing strategy," Hampton states. "It's not acting in partnership with the community when police officers respond to tips by asking people to give up their constitutional rights and permit their homes to be searched without a warrant."

Hampton will be testify at a 3:30 PM Boston City Council hearing on a "Safe Homes" resolution (Docket # 0565) sponsored by Councilor Chuck Turner. He will then participate in a Community Speak-Out at Freedom House at 14 Crawford Street in Dorchester (6-8 PM): "Come Get Your Rights On! What You Need to Know About Police Searches."

City Council Hearing on "Safe Homes" resolution
Docket # 0565, sponsored by Councilor Chuck Turner
Tuesday, June 3, 3:30pm
Boston City Hall

Come Get Your Rights On! What You Need to Know About Police Searches
Tuesday, June 3, 6:00-8:00pm
Freedom House
14 Crawford Street (near Grove Hall), Dorchester

In addition to discussing the "Safe Homes" initiative, the forum will focus on police searches on the street, and what can be done to enhance community safety.

Other participants include:

- King Downing, National Coordinator of the ACLU's Campaign Against Racial Profiling;
- Senator Dianne Wilkerson;
- Angela Williams-Mitchell, president of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law-Enforcement Officers;
- Horace Small, executive director of the Union of Minority Neighborhoods;
- Sarah Wunsch, ACLU of Massachusetts staff attorney;
- Scott Rankin, a staff attorney with the Youth Advocacy Project.

The Freedom House Community Speak-Out is being organized by the ACLU of Massachusetts and 13 advocacy and community groups.