Trump signs executive order to reform policing, encourages ban on chokeholds

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ABC News(WASHINGTON) — BY: JORDYN PHELPSUnder pressure to take action in the wake of the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order aimed at encouraging police departments across the country to adopt stricter standards on the use of force.The president announced that his order calls for police departments to adopt bans on chokeholds.”As part of this new credentialing process, chokeholds will be banned, except if an officer’s life is at risk. And I will say, we’ve dealt with all of the various departments and everybody said ‘it’s time,"” Trump said of the order.The order also calls for the creation of database for police departments to share information on officers with a history of misconduct to prevent those officers from easily moving between different departments. It also encourages the use of so-called co-responders, like social workers and individuals trained in mental health issues, to respond to non-violent calls.Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, he surrounded himself with law enforcement officials and framed his reform remarks with strong talk of law and order.”Americans want law and order. They demand law and order,” he said. “They may not say it. They may not be talking about it, but that’s what they want. Some of them don’t even know that’s what they want, but that’s what they want.””We have to find common ground, but I strongly oppose the radical and dangerous efforts to defend, dismantle and dissolve our police departments, especially now when we’ve achieved the lowest recorded crime rates in recent history. Americans know the truth. Without police, there’s chaos. Without law, there’s anarchy and without safety, there’s catastrophe,” he said.Trump began by saying he’d just met with what he called some “incredible” family members of individuals who have died in encounters with police and corrections officers or in racially-charged circumstances. The president offered words of consolation and a promise to “fight for justice” for those families before singing the order.The president said he members of the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean, Antoine Rose, Jamel Roberson, Atatiana Jefferson, Michael Dean, Darius Tarver, Cameron Lamb, and Everett Palmer.”To all of the hurting families, I want you to know that all Americans mourn by your side,” Trump said. “Your loved ones will not have died in vain. We’re one nation, we grieve together and we heal together. I can never imagine your pain or the depth of your anguish. I can promise to fight for justice for all of our people,” he said.The president said he gave the families a commitment to work toward reform, referencing Sen. Tim Scott, the Senate’s sole African American Republican who is leading the GOP’s legislative effort.”I gave a commitment to all of those families today with Sen. Tim Scott, Attorney General Bill Barr. We are going to pursue what we said we will be pursuing and we will be pursuing it strongly,” Trump said.President Trump offered his clearest endorsement of efforts to seek legislative reform, beyond his executive order.”Beyond the steps we’re taking today, I am committed to working with Congress on additional measures,” Trump said. “And hopefully they’ll all get together, they’ll come up with a solution that goes even beyond what we’re signing today, but this is a big, big step.”As he now expresses support for reforming the nation’s policing system, the president falsely accused the prior administration of not even attempting to bring about change.“President Obama and Vice President Biden never even tried to fix this during their eight-year period. The reason they didn’t try is because they had no idea how to do it. And it is a complex situation,” Trump said.But the prior administration did set about seeking reforms. President Obama set up a “21st Century Policing” task force to develop recommendations for police departments with the recommendation that “Law enforcement culture should embrace a guardian — rather than a warrior — mindset to build trust and legitimacy both within agencies and with the public.”Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.