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Major US law enforcement agencies are assessing President Biden’s new executive order for police reform, with some saying it is a step in the right direction, while others fear it is simply a “political theater” that will demoralize and threaten police officers. .
Biden signed the “Executive Order to Improve Effective, Responsible Police and Criminal Justice Practices to Boost Public Confidence and Public Safety” on Wednesday afternoon, two years after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
The executive order is “a measure of what we can do to heal the very soul of this nation,” Biden said.
The executive order comes when crime is rising across the country and a record number of police officers have been shot dead in the line of duty. Employees say morale in their departments is low and they have problems with hiring. It comes a few months later The law on police reform has stopped in the Senate due to disagreements between Republican and Democrat lawmakers.
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Senior administration officials told Fox News that the action would focus on a wide range of reforms, including: directing the Attorney General to create a national law enforcement accountability database, banning the use of strangulation and carotid restraints unless allowing lethal force, restricting the use of knock-on entry, strengthening the model and practices of investigations, and restricting the transfer of military vehicles and equipment to police stations.
President Joe Biden spoke at the White House Rose Garden in Washington on Friday, May 13, 2022, during an event to highlight state and local leaders who are investing funding from the US Rescue Plan. Attorney General Merrick Garland, left, and Kansas City, Mrs., and Police Chief Joe Mabin are listening. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)
The National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) told Fox News Digital that the organization was not consulted by the Biden administration in drafting the action.
NSA President Sheriff Vernon Stanford said: “There are potential elements of this order that make sense and could be useful to all law enforcement agencies. However, sheriffs are disappointed that the president has chosen opacity over transparency in drafting this order.”
“Choosing not to listen to the elected law enforcement agencies, the president failed to hear the rest of the country. Unfortunately, [he] manually chose with whom he and his employees would share the actual words and from whom they would take information. Law enforcement agencies work in every county in America, not just East and West Coast cities. “
“This process leads us to believe that the president had biased ideas about our opinions and views. Importantly, elected sheriffs represent and protect 300,000,000 citizens, manage 90% of the nation’s prisons, protect over 90% of court buildings, and manage 90% of the nation’s 911 systems. “This effort can only be seen as biased against the nation’s 3,086 sheriffs.”
The National Police Association (NPA) also called Biden’s action a “political theater” that could endanger the lives of police officers and the public.
The speaker is a sergeant. Betsy Branter Smith told Fox News Digital that restrictions on the transfer of military equipment are “an area where, in the name of a safer public, it could endanger the lives of police and the public.”
“If the president intends to hinder the ability of law enforcement agencies to acquire these life-saving vehicles, he must personally provide a replacement who will be equally effective in protecting the police and the public,” Smith said.
Smith told Fox News Digital: “George Floyd’s death was tragic, our judiciary has dealt harshly with those involved, and now is not the time to tell the public that US law enforcement is ‘systematically racist’ and should be further restricted in our methods. to stop the criminal activity that continues to harass our nation. It would be most useful if the president declared war on crime, so that criminals would once again understand that the president is not keeping his back to them. “
Jason Johnson, president of the Law Enforcement Fund (LELDF), told Fox News Digital: “This executive order is a political response to activists’ demands. If the administration really wants to help law enforcement improve their training and continue to raise professional standards, it can be done. However, this requires work with the management of law enforcement agencies and the various labor organizations that represent law enforcement officials. “
“I sincerely hope that the administration will recognize that, while politically appropriate, unjustified restrictions on law enforcement have had and will have a detrimental effect on public safety.”
However, other law enforcement groups, which have been more involved behind the scenes in drafting the enforcement order, are optimistic that this is a step in the right direction.
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The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Fraternal Police Order (FOP) told Fox News Digital that they were engaged in “extensive discussions” with the Biden administration to develop the executive order, saying it was “a significant step forward.” in our ongoing efforts to strengthen public confidence in the police and the criminal justice system. “
Police cars in line. (Frankysze via Getty Images)
“During our discussions, the IACP and FOP remained focused on communicating the challenges facing the police profession and making it clear that our profession is made up of dedicated people who are committed to protecting human life and upholding the highest ethical standards. standards and treat all people with dignity and respect, while holding themselves and others accountable for their actions, ”the groups said.
The organizations see the order as a “plan” for further action by Congress and have stated that they remain firm in our commitment to work with all stakeholders who wish to take an evidence-based approach to effective and lasting change to build safer a future for our communities and the men and women peace workers who serve them. “
“A broader approach to overall systemic issues must be a priority for all elected officials and, just as our organizations have done from the beginning, be ready to work together to make our entire criminal justice system fairer and more equitable. “Fair for all,” IACP and FOP said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke at the Department of Justice on January 5, 2022 in Washington, DC. Garland talks about the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 (Carolyn Custer-Poole / Getty Images)
The Association of Heads of Large Cities (MCCA) also said the administration “consulted widely” with the MCCA in drafting the enforcement order, but warned that enforcement action “instead of” Congressional action was “not sustainable” means of bringing about change. .
“Establishing effective and meaningful reform without compromising the ability of law enforcement to keep our communities safe is extremely complex. Therefore, as this enforcement order moves to the implementation phase, the administration must continue to cooperate with stakeholders in law enforcement agencies such as the MCCA. It is crucial to ensure that implementation does not lead to unfunded mandates or breaches of employee confidentiality, due process or other important safeguards, “the group said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“The MCCA has consistently argued that executive action instead of congressional action is not a sustainable means of achieving and bringing about change. Therefore, while today’s executive order is an important first step, the MCCA encourages Congress to come together to develop and adopt bipartisan legislation that promotes transparency and accountability, while supporting courageous officers who protect and serve our communities. “
Larry Cosme, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Association, said the action “will usher in a new era for federal law enforcement.”
The organization, which has played an “integral” role in drafting the enforcement order, says the order “strikes the right balance between understanding the public need for accountability and understanding the needs of law enforcement to ensure that all communities are safe and secure.” .
Attorney General Merrick Garland sent a note to law enforcement on Friday informing them that the federal government has updated its policies on the use of force for the first time in nearly two decades.
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“The policy of the Ministry of Justice is to value and preserve human life. Employees may use only force that is objectively reasonable to gain effective control of the incident while protecting the safety of the employee and others. ” note saysciting a 1989 Supreme Court decision setting standards for police use of force.
Fox News’s David Spunt, Lucas Tomlinson and Paul Best contributed to the report.
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