Progress Report on Town’s Implementation of Community Safety Working Group’s Recommendations

A new report from the League of Women Voters Amherst’s Racial Justice Committee finds that the town could be doing a lot more to meet commitments that it made in 2021 following the murder of Geroge Floyd, to support racial justice and racial equity in town.  The report, issued on October 1, 2025, focuses on the six primary recommendations (see also here) of the town’s Community Safety Working Group (CSWG).

These were:

1. Create a well-staffed, well-funded Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

2. Create CRESS – a civilian, unarmed alternative to Amherst Police Department 

3. Create an Amherst Resident Oversight Board 

4. Create BIPOC-led Amherst Youth Empowerment Center and BIPOC Cultural Center 

5. Establish a body to carry forward the work of CSWG, the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee 

6. Analyze the practices of the Amherst Police Department, with the goal of decreasing the size of APD as CRESS assumes an increasing portion of the APD workload. 

While the League report acknowledges the creation of each of these departments/programs as important steps toward supporting racial justice and racial equity in Amherst, it finds the town’s support of the programs insufficient and offers specific suggestions for next steps that the town could take to fully support these initiatives.

See Related: Much Work Remains to Make Amherst and Equitable Community (Amherst Indy)

The report was presented at the League’s Judy Brooks Conversation Series on October 15. That online event was attended by about 18 people including Town Councilors, Lynne Griesemer, Hala Lord, and Ellisha Walker, Town Council candidate Andy Churchill, and Community Safety and Social Justice Committee member Erica Piedade.  The recording of that event will be posted soon on the LWVA web page.

The report emphasizes the non-partisan nature of the committee’s work, stating, “The report was written not to promote specific programs or decisions, but to inform the public, as well as our elected and appointed officials, about the work being done by the town regarding racial justice and possible next steps the town could take towards increasing equity and safety for all residents of Amherst. The Amherst League encourages readers of this report to take the information and advocate for the changes you believe need to be made.”

“…the current federal ICE policies targeting immigrants for deportation extend the relevance of this work to our immigrant neighbors as well. Indeed, providing a safe and equitable community for every person who visits or lives in Amherst should be our town’s priority.”

Rationale for the Report
The report states, “Four years have passed since the CSWG completed their work and issued their report. With the League’s position in support of racial equity in mind, we believe it is an appropriate time to review the progress our town has made towards implementing these recommendations. While the CSWG focused on our BIPOC neighbors, in response to national events in 2020-2021, the current federal ICE policies targeting immigrants for deportation extend the relevance of this work to our immigrant neighbors as well. Indeed, providing a safe and equitable community for every person who visits or lives in Amherst should be our town’s priority.” 

Methodology 
The report states that “the goal was to conduct an analysis informed by fact and data, to provide a clear, factually accurate accounting of progress. We have made use of the Town Manager’s monthly reports to Town Council, meeting minutes from the Council, monthly and annual reports from the DEI and CRESS Departments, the town budget, and other data available in Town records, as well as interviews with town and safety department officials and with community members. In the following sections, we discuss each of the main CSWG recommendations, the initial rationale, and the extent to which the recommendation has been implemented.”

Love Report Echoes Need to Support CSWG Recommendations
The report follows on the heels of consultant Barbara Love’s final report on the town’s liberatory visioning project which noted the need to address historical harm to marginalized populations as well as contemporary aggressions. As in the CSWG report, it noted the need for dedicated spaces such as a BIPOC cultural center for marginalized groups to provide a welcoming environment. The report also suggested reviving community centers such as the former Boys and Girls Club that closed with the pandemic, and other programs that engage young people in productive activities. Other suggestions were to fund local artists and cultural workers and to invest in gathering spaces, public places that foster a sense of belonging, multicultural celebration, and cross-community connection. The need for support of Black owned businesses and for a media presence to tell the often untold stories of Black residents were also named in the report. 

Executive Summary of League Report
Below, we reproduce in its entirety, the executive summary of that report.  The full report, with detailed suggested next steps for each of the six CSWG initiatives can be found here.

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE TOWN’S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 

COMMUNITY SAFETY WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 

Amherst League of Women Voters Racial Justice Committee

Executive Summary

October 1, 2025

The Amherst League of Women Voters is committed to providing information that informs public understanding and dialogue on issues of importance to our governance and well-being. The League advocates against systemic racism in the justice system and is committed to promoting equitable, fair and just treatment for all members of our community. 

With this purpose and advocacy in mind, we have reviewed the extent to which the major recommendations of the Community Safety Working Group (CSWG) have been implemented in the four years since the Working Group issued their report. Our analysis is based on published reports, Town records, and interviews with Town officials and community members. 

The report was written not to promote specific programs or decisions, but to inform the public, as well as our elected and appointed officials, about the work being done by the town regarding racial justice and possible next steps the town could take towards increasing equity and safety for all residents of Amherst. The Amherst League encourages readers of this report to take the information and advocate for the changes you believe need to be made.

The Community Safety Working Group (CSWG) 
Following the May 26, 2020, murder of George Floyd, the Town of Amherst established a Community Safety Working Group to study the complex issues of how the Town delivers safety services, make recommendations on alternative ways of providing public safety to ensure racial equity, and make recommendations on reforms to the current organizational and oversight structures of the Amherst Police Department. In December 2020, the Town Council passed a Resolution Affirming the Town of Amherst’s Commitment to End Structural Racism and Achieve Racial Equity for Black Residents. 

The CSWG carried out extensive research, commissioned reports, held community forums, conducted surveys, and issued a comprehensive two-part report outlining their vision for a more equitable community-centered approach to public safety and well-being in Amherst. The major recommendations – and progress to date – are briefly summarized here.

CSWG Recommendations 
The CSWG Final Report (Parts A & B) presented the following major recommendations: 

1. Create a well-staffed, well-funded Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

2. Create CRESS – a civilian, unarmed alternative to the Amherst Police Department 

3. Create an Amherst Resident Oversight Board 

4. Create BIPOC (Black, Indigenous People of Color)-led Amherst Youth Empowerment Center and BIPOC Cultural Center 

5. Establish a body to carry forward the work of CSWG, the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee 

6. Analyze the practices of the Amherst Police Department, with the goal of decreasing the size of APD as CRESS assumes an increasing portion of the APD workload. 

Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 
The Town has established a two-person DEI Department, with the goal of making Amherst a community that is diverse, inclusive, and welcoming to all. The department conducts workshops for town staff, oversees three town committees and engages in public outreach, such as Dr. Barbara Love’s Liberatory Visioning and the 2025 Global Village Festival. The DEI Director also serves as the Human Rights Director and mediates complaints of human rights violations. Its potential community impact is limited by their limited staffing.

Community Responders for Equity, Safety, and Service Department (CRESS) 
CRESS was established to provide an unarmed, trauma-informed, racially sensitive alternative to traditional police response for non-violent situations. It has become a vital resource for residents facing challenges related to mental health, housing, poverty, and disability, particularly among BIPOC communities, who account for nearly half of all service calls. A number of factors are limiting their current effectiveness. These include staffing reductions, budget cuts, and lack of integration into the Town’s Public Safety Dispatch system. Calls for service have increased significantly, yet CRESS remains limited to weekday office hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., although police records show that the most urgent need occurs from 4:00 p.m. to midnight. Public awareness is growing, but many residents remain unaware of the department’s role and services. 

Resident Oversight Board (ROB) 
The CSWG considered creation of a resident oversight board to be an urgent need. The ROB was envisioned as a mechanism for ensuring equitable and accountable policing. The scope of the ROB responsibilities presented by the CSWG fall into three main categories: (1) Receive complaints about policing incidents and conduct credible investigations; (2) Engage in community outreach; (3) Audit APD policies, practices, and culture to improve trust. Despite on-going discussions, no formal processes for conducting these key functions have been implemented.

Youth Empowerment Center and BIPOC Cultural Center 
The CSWG called for a Youth Empowerment Center and a BIPOC Cultural Center to provide safe, enriching spaces for youth and families. No formal Centers have been established; however, several youth programs have emerged, including the Morning Movement & Mentoring Program, RISE, and Youth Entrepreneurship initiatives. While these may be excellent programs, a practical after-school or weekend place where youth can safely be involved in sports, activities, or just “hang out” has not yet been identified.

Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) 
The CSWG recommended forming a standing committee, primarily composed of BIPOC residents, dedicated to continuing their important work of advancing equity and community safety and ensuring accountability in implementing CSWG recommendations. The CSSJC was formed in 2022 and continues to advocate for equity and racial justice in Amherst. Their work is on-going, but increased two-way communication and integration into town decision-making are critical.

Analyze the practices of the Amherst Police Department (APD) 
The Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) recommended a comprehensive review of the Amherst Police Department policies and procedures in their 2021 Amherst Police Department Policy Review. The CSWG strongly endorsed this audit in response to the complaints from BIPOC residents of disrespect/harassment, over-policing and lack of trust. A careful review can lead to more effective allocation of APD resources and clarify tasks that are more appropriate for CRESS.