Let's fix a fundamental public policy problem tonight.

Police accountability.

The first problem is that policing is more of a trade than a profession.

One of the core differences is that professions are self-regulating, while trades are regulated by the government.

Providing liability insurance for unlawful shootings would shift the incentives to departments to minimize the number of unlawful shootings to rate lower insurance premiums.

Individual officers would be motivated to hold their colleagues responsible to keep insurance rates down.

If the insurance also funded a well-trained special prosecution unit that would prosecute police shootings, they would send a clear signal that the profession of policing welcomes public accountability and responsibility.

This unit doesn't need to be government funded.

Police departments that adopt these sort of accountability principles can signal to lateral transfers and recruits what kind of values they live by, which will attract ethical and honorable peace officers.

Shady cops wouldn't join an accountability department.

Jurisdictions that strongly encourage their sworn forces to adopt these accountability principles can lower their municipal insurance premiums and receive grace from their communities if a tragedy occurs, because the community knows accountability and responsibility are there.