Source: BlueCross BlueShield MN

Innovative de-escalation app TurnSignl works to get everyone home from traffic stops safely

January 21, 2022

One in every 1,000 Black men will die at the hands of police. Black men are also 2.5 times more likely to be killed by police use of force than white men. Police violence is a leading cause of death for Black men ages 25 to 29.

The 2016 murder of Philando Castile and 2020 murder of George Floyd by police officers during routine stops brought those points into stark focus for Jazz Hampton, Andre Creighton and Mychal Frelix.

“Andre and Mychal grew up playing sports with the Castile family, so that tragedy truly hit home for them,” says Jazz. “All three of us have attended peaceful protests, engaged in dialogue and raised awareness. However, we sat down and decided that as three Black professionals, we are uniquely positioned to build a solution to help keep people’s rights protected and get everyone home safely.”

In late 2020, the trio began developing the TurnSignl app to provide on-demand and real-time service to de-escalate encounters between motorists and law enforcement and ensure that drivers feel safe every time they get on the road.