Western Mass Copwatch is a group of ordinary people who observe and record police activity on the streets. We do this because we believe that police brutality is widespread in our communities and that the only way to stop it is to challenge it directly. We believe that police harassment and brutality is especially widespread in communities of color and that this is due to the long history of white supremacy in this country. For us, the struggle against police brutality is also a struggle against racism.
Copwatch Organizations exist across the U.S. and Canada. We are loosely networked with some of them, but each Copwatch operates independently and autonomously. There is no national Copwatch; in July 2007, there was a national copwatching conference, which we did not attend.
Copwatch principles
- The struggle against police brutality is a struggle against racism. We believe that police brutality is widespread in our communities and that much of it is directly related to the long history of white supremacy in this country. Therefore, we consider the struggle against police brutality to also be a struggle against racism.
- The objective of Copwatch is to observe and record the police when they interrogate people on the streets, and to offer assistance to victims of police abuse when we can.
- Copwatch does not provoke confrontations with the police. We are a nonviolent organization. We do support the principle of self-defense against police attacks.
- Copwatch is opposed to all forms of oppression, even though we are organized to fight one specific form of oppression, police abuse.
- Copwatch is an independent organization. We do not work with any law enforcement agencies, other government agencies or political parties.
- Copwatch is a democratic organization. All members have an equal say in all matters, discussions and decisions relating to Copwatch. Copwatch has no permanent officers.
Copwatch Mission
Copwatch is a non-violent, non-confrontational civilian advocacy organization. We strive to help end police misconduct, brutality, and abuse of power through direct observation of the police in the streets, and advocating for their victims after the event.
We take it upon ourselves to police the police. While we know it is impossible to be at the scene of every situation with the police, we intend to be in the streets at times when police misconduct is most probable. We will document on paper and on film as much of the police activity as we can.
We will build a reputation as advocates for the victims of police misconduct within the community.
We will be advocates for people who feel the police have mistreated them. We will make all our documents available to such people, and their lawyers on request. We will archive all documentation so that if a person chooses not to pursue a claim against the police, and later decides to, the documentation will be available. We will erase any unusable video.
We will attempt to de-escalate situations whenever possible and we will encourage people to solve problems nonviolently without the involvement of police. We want to help expand community support for victims of police crime, to educate community members about their rights, encourage others to exercise their right to observe the police, and mobilize the community to protest injustices.
Copwatch Demands
- An immediate end to all police brutality. We want to help end it by observing and recording police activity on the streets.
- To empower victims of police misconduct to pursue their grievances, with the goal of resolving individual cases and preventing future occurrences.
- To educate the general public and, in particular, target groups of police abuse on their rights and responsibilities.
- To promote and monitor an effective system for civilian oversight of police. We also support the creation of strong civilian oversight boards run by citizens (not cops) and vested with full investigative and punitive powers.
- An end to shoot-to-kill policies among police departments, in which the police are ordered to shoot to kill a person rather than wound or disable them.
- An end to high-speed “chases” by police — pursuit that has resulted in many fatalities at the hands of police.
Copwatch Activities
- Community Outreach
- Reaching out to organizations, community groups, and individuals to raise awareness about Copwatch.
- Tabling (distributing literature about rights, police brutality issues and Copwatch) at events.
- Community Education
- Organizing or taking part in events with a specific educational purpose, such as Know your Rights forums, community speakouts on police brutality, and more.
- Patrols
- We go out as frequently as possible. Copwatch typically has three types of Patrols: Driving, Walking and Protests.
Get involved…
If you are interested in getting involved with Western Mass. Copwatch, please contact us. We ask new members to go through a three-part training. We have trainings for new members every couple of months.
This is potentially dangerous activism. If you slough off on your responsibilities, other people can get hurt. We need to be disciplined, well-trained, know the laws, and know our rights. This takes practice and a bit of study in addition to going out on regular patrols. You need to be able to commit to doing these things. That said, if you have legal, moral, or personal reasons to avoid any confrontation with the police and/or the possibility of arrest, there is still a place for you in Copwatch. We’re going to need help with organizing and leading Know your Rights trainings, doing police research, legal defense, fundraising, outreach, helping file complaints, training new members, updating the website, maintaining and building relationships with other organizations, public relations, etc. If you are serious about joining Copwatch but can’t go out on patrols, we can find a place for you.