The video is haunting. Less than a mile from where George Floyd lost his life, an ICE agent fired three shots into Renée Nicole Good’s vehicle in Minnesota despite video evidence suggesting no reasonable threat of imminent deadly harm to the officer. Only after her death did federal investigators begin asking the questions that should have been answered before the trigger was pulled: Was this necessary? Where was the de-escalation?
For me, and for the voters of Prince George’s County, this moment demands reflection and resolve. Officers should not be the judge, jury, and executioner. Accountability must come before the next viral video—not after another family is left grieving.
A Pattern We Can No Longer Ignore
Renée Good’s death is not an isolated tragedy. Across this country, routine encounters too often escalate into lethal force. Officers place themselves in the path of moving vehicles, claim self-defense, and communities—particularly Black, Brown, immigrant, and marginalized communities—are left wondering whether any interaction with law enforcement could be their last.
The question is not if this will happen again. The question is whether leadership will be ready to respond with integrity, transparency, and courage when it does.
Why I Approach This Work Differently
I bring a perspective shaped by experience on every side of the justice system—Assistant State’s Attorney, criminal defense attorney, State Legislator, on the House Judiciary Committee crafting Maryland’s police reform laws, and now Prince George’s County Councilmember overseeing public safety.
I support law enforcement. I know firsthand the danger officers face and the split-second decisions they are often required to make. I have worked alongside officers and prosecutors who put their lives on the line every day. Supporting law enforcement means ensuring officers have the training, policies, and leadership necessary to do their jobs safely and lawfully—before a situation turns tragic.
Accountability is not anti-police. It is pro-justice, pro-safety, and pro-community. Good officers want accountability because it builds public trust and protects them when they do the right thing.
When Federal Actions Affect Local Communities
While a State’s Attorney cannot control federal agencies, silence is complicity. When federal agents operate in Prince George’s County using tactics that would be unacceptable for our local police, my responsibility is clear: criminal conduct on county soil must be investigated, and vulnerable communities must know their State’s Attorney will stand with them.
No badge—local, state, or federal—places anyone above the law in Prince George’s County.
A Clear, Action-Driven Plan
As the only candidate for Prince George’s County State’s Attorney with experience writing, passing, and prosecuting public safety legislation, I am prepared to meet this moment where policy meets prosecution.
My commitments are clear:
- Investigate without fear or favor. Establish a dedicated unit to handle serious use-of-force cases, including those involving federal task forces where jurisdiction permits.
- End the culture of secrecy. Ensure the timely release of key facts and video evidence in high-profile cases, consistent with the law and victim privacy. Transparency is essential to public trust.
- Prevent tragedy before it happens. Strengthen de-escalation requirements and duty-to-intervene policies. Strong policies protect both communities and officers from lifelong trauma, legal exposure, and career-ending consequences.
- Set standards for federal cooperation. Require federal operations to meet county use-of-force standards or proceed without local support. If force is used, local review must follow.
- Address root causes. Invest in re-entry, juvenile intervention, and domestic violence prevention so fewer residents face repeated, high-risk encounters with law enforcement.
- Protect immigrant communities. Establish a focused immigrant and civil rights initiative to identify abuse patterns and ensure residents can report crimes without fear of retaliation or targeting.
As I have said before—and will continue to say—everyone deserves to be safe in their communities. Not just some people in some neighborhoods, but every person in every community. Justice should never depend on where you were born or how much power you hold.
The Choice Before Prince George’s County
Minnesota’s tragedy offers Prince George’s County a warning—and a choice. We can wait for the next viral video and federal investigation, or we can elect leadership that insists on accountability before lives are lost.
I believe officers deserve clear standards, strong training, and principled leadership. And I believe our communities deserve a State’s Attorney who will act—especially when it is uncomfortable or politically risky.
Renée Good’s death should never have happened. I see it as a warning. And I am ready to heed it—for our communities, for justice, and for the officers who serve with honor.
