Currents News Staff
After meeting with families whose loved ones were victims of police violence and racial profiling, President Trump signed an executive order to change some police practices, “to deliver a future of safety and security for Americans of every race, religion, color and creed.”
“All Americans mourn by your side,” he told the families. “Your loved ones will not have died in vain.”
Among the reforms, the order establishes a national database to track the excessive use of force by officers and any convictions or judgments against officers for improper use of force.
It also provides more funding to departments which have received or are seeking accreditation for training officers in use of force and de-escalation techniques and bans chokeholds, except in instances when an officer’s life is in danger and the use of deadly force is allowed by law.
The order encourages police departments to add social workers or mental health professionals to respond to calls related to mental health, including drug addiction and homelessness.
The president, who prides himself on promoting law and order, also strongly defended police.
“Americans know the truth,” he said. “Without police, there is chaos. Without law, there’s anarchy. And without safety, there is catastrophe”
But some say this action isn’t enough.
“It will not do anything to correct police brutality, which is the real issue,” said Joe Ested, a former Richmond, Virginia police officer.
President Trump is now punting to Congress to put more police reforms into law.
“Hopefully they’ll all get together, and they will come up with a solution that goes even beyond what we’re signing today, but this is a big, big step,” he said.