The Speaker

Lieut. Daniels (Ret.) is a Bridgeport, Connecticut native, still residing there, A retired Bridgeport Police Department Lieutenant with 25 plus years’ service. During that career worked in the Patrol , Communications, Internal Affairs , Recruiting and The Community services division. Attained the rank of sergeant after 8 years and 2 years later lieutenant. Early on in his career taught The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program to public and Parochial Schools in the district and GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training Program as well organized Block watches ,did security surveys for residence and businesses around the city as well, While in charge of the Community services division instituted Free food and toy give a ways for the community. Created the Officer Friendly Basketball camp which lasted nearly 20 years.

During his career was The 5 term President of The Bridgeport Guardians, A one term Vice President of the NBPA (National Black Police Association) Northeastern Region and the First President of what eventually became known as NABLEO (The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers).

The recipient of several national, regional and local awards and citations including The State of Connecticut Legacy Citation and both the NABLEO President’s Award and Lifetime Achievement Award

After Retirement Mr. Daniels periodically does consultant work and conducts workshops as well including the NBA Rookie Transition program in New York and workshops on taking promotional exams for the Charlotte-Mech Police Department. A former WYBC radio on air DJ in New Haven, Connecticut , soon to be a published author and the creator of The Bridgeport Jazz Fest.

The Workshop

When Good People Write Bad Policy: Discriminatory Bans and Prohibitions Don’t Work : Wednesday, October 04, 2023 10:30A

Several states and municipalities are proposing to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes. Smoking is bad and tobacco kills in addition to the debilitating effects of nicotine addiction and need to prevent youth from smoking. Prohibitions and flavor bans have been spotlights in the national media. This proposal seems race-neutral. But over 85% of African Americans who choose to smoke prefer menthol cigarettes while most White tobacco consumers prefer unflavored tobacco. To draw up a ban only against products favored by people of color seems not only unjust but also remarkably insensitive. Giving officers even more reason to detain and engage on the basis of a flavored tobacco ban, including menthol, would assuredly lead to encounters that are likely to escalate to the unnecessary use of force, arrests, and possibly deadly force.

The unintended consequences of bans and prohibitions need to be better understood by public policymakers contemplating passing legislation that will directly impact the interactions between members of communities of color and law enforcement officers. This session will explore the laudable intent of the public health community to decrease the use of tobacco products by communities of color, address the serious concerns of youth using tobacco products, and how to stem the tide of youth use of e-cigarettes, and will expound on the lived experiences and expertise of leading Black law enforcement professionals on the unintended consequences of bans and prohibitions.