'Safe Policing for Safe Communities': President Trump Signs Executive Order on Law Enforcement Reform

Aimee Herd : Jun 16, 2020
C-SPAN.org

"We need to bring communities and law enforcement closer together, not to drive them apart..." -President Trump

In the wake of the killing of George Floyd in May, and the protests and riots that followed, President Trump took action first by holding roundtable discussions on what can be done on a national level to reform excessive police force, and foster better interaction with its community members; and then he signed an executive order today, in the Rose Garden. (Screengrab image: via C-SPAN)

"We are one nation, we grieve together, and we heal together ... What's needed now is not more fear and stoking division," said the President before signing the order, "we need to bring communities and law enforcement closer together, not to drive them apart.

Under the executive order I'm signing today, we will prioritize federal grants from the Department of Justice that seek independent credentials certifying that [law enforcement departments] meet high standards on the use of force and de-escalation training ... as part of this new credentialing process, chokeholds will be banned—except if an officer's life is at risk.

Additionally, we're looking at new and powerful less-lethal weapons to help prevent deadly interactions. New devices are being developed all the time and we're looking at the best of them--and cost is no object.

Under this executive order, departments will also need to share information about credible abuses, so that officers with significant issues do not simply move from one police department to the next.

In addition, my order will direct federal funding to support officers dealing with homeless individuals and those who have mental illness and substance abuse problems. We will provide more resources for co-responders, such as social workers who can help officers manage these complex encounters...

Beyond the steps I'm taking today, I'm committed to working with Congress on additional measures ... But in order to make real progress on public safety, we have to break old patterns of failure...

A great jobs market and thriving economy is probably the best thing that we can do to help the black, Hispanic and Asian communities..." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Click here to watch the full video of President Trump's remarks and signing of the executive order on law enforcement reform.