We seek change by holding all elected officials accountable
Our Co-Founder
At the time of the unfortunate event I was 8 year's old. I still remember it today and I often have nightmares about it. My dad's actions that night saved his life and I am relieved for that. The police officers were determined to hurt him and they did. I remember my dad asking, "Why are you here? Why are you doing this? This is my home! This is my property!" The officer kept pushing, shoving, and at times punching my dad in the back with his flashlight. When he called for back-up my mom sent me inside while my dad was exclaiming, "I am not resisting!" The next time I talked to my dad was over the phone. I remember him saying when these things happen, we just have to survive the day and have the court solve it. We are not a perfect country but we are a nation of laws and good people. We'll fix it in the justice system.
I wish I had been a lawyer that night.
It was my idea to say something publicly. I wanted to write the St. Petersburg Mayor and the Chief of police both to tell them of my fear and anxiety from a lack of police accountability. I had taken multiple pictures with the mayor and the Chief smiling away, when they could have been responsible for my father's death. Instead, I decided to join my dad when he started this nonprofit to advocate for police reform, which turned into the JETA Project. He turned my fear into passion and my anxiety into action.
We will have real police reform, stop the school-to-prison pipeline, and afford all parents, rich or poor, access and a say in their children's education.
About US
Backgorund
Our History
Just like many other minorities living in an environment where systemic racism rules, we were impacted.
I, Jean-Marie Leon, started the BodyCams4StPetePD back in 2019 after an encounter with members of the St. Petersburg Police Department on my front lawn.
This lived experience has forever changed my life. I almost lost my life in front of my kids because I was hungry after working on my master's degree paper all day and went to get something to eat. I exercised my right to remain silent and for a police officer this was a disrespect. The worst part that night was them taking me to an empty parking lot to question me. I was verbally abused, threatened with violence, grabbed by the throat and genitals. When I was still not willing to talk and held on to my 5th amendment right, this is when an officer threatened my daughter with unforeseen adverse actions since I would most likely be in jail and incapable of protecting her.
Of course, the Officers lied on their reports about my demeanor and the amount of anger that I displayed. Officer Enhoffer is now in prison for child pornography but the remaining racists and abusers on my case are still enforcing law and order.
Our movement put pressure on City Hall and the black leaders of St. Petersburg to finally force the Police Department to adopt Body Cams. To shut us up they adopted a bodycam system that only records if they pull their guns or tazers: a total farce that costs us $10 million. Still, no real police accountability.
Through our movement we learned of the resistance to body cams. In that category we have the Police Union, we had the police Chief Holloway and deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin resisting because body cams would mean the end of favoritism to the elites in South St. Pete, and our then-Mayor Rick Kriseman, who refused to lead on the subject and turned it over to the chief because he is African American and as such, he should know what best to do for the benefits of the African American community. This elementary approach to policing changed my whole view of City Hall.
Now that the city adopted bodycams, the JETA Project believes that the type of body cams chosen for the job is inadequate and the policy supporting the use of body cams is very weak.
Seeing a need for energetic, nonprofit work in this area, we formed our organization to provide sensible solutions. We are focused using the ballots, petitions, targeted marketing, and the courts in order to bring about the necessary changes for all of us to live and thrive together.
We've consistently grown since then, all thanks to the helping support of this amazing community.
Our Team
The Leons are a dynamic, diverse, and multi-cultural family of passionate individuals. Jean-Marie and Jean-Bertrand are the primary advocates, and the others are part-time volunteers committed to bringing accountability, updated police practices, and the prevention of institutionalized racism in the application of the law in our schools, communities, and workplaces. We take our convictions and turn them into action. We use our lived experiences as inspiration. We rely on each other for resiliency.
Think you would be a good fit?
Have you been the victim of police abuse?
Have you been denied access to your kids at school because of a minor incidence with the police?
Have an unfair and targeted police prosecution denied you the pursuit of happiness?
Get in touch for an opportunity to organize for lasting change.
Mission
We focus on making the maximum positive effort for our community. Our members and volunteers provide the momentum that helps us affect change. Using data driven models, we provide solutions that make a long-lasting difference.
JETA in the community
Our Co-founder JB Leon spreading the idea of justice, equity, trust, and accountability.
The people that are making this world unpleasant rarely take a break, why should we?
When a force turns into a movement,
convictions turn into achievable goals and just like that the impossible become possible
-Jean Marie Leon