President Donald Trump said Thursday that his administration was finalizing an executive order focusing on police reform amid widespread protests over the death of George Floyd.
The statement, which came during a roundtable with law enforcement officers in Dallas, addressed police funding, social workers and de-escalation tactics, Politico reported. It also came amid demonstrations and rioting over Floyd, who died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for about nine minutes, video showed.
“We’re working to finalize an executive order that will encourage police departments nationwide to meet the most current professional standards for the use of force, including tactics for de-escalation,” Trump said. “Also, we’ll encourage pilot programs that allow social workers to join certain law enforcement officers so that they work together.”
Trump emphasized his support for law enforcement and said he wanted to increase funding toward it. (RELATED: Charles Barkley Rips Movement To Defund The Police)
“We’re not defunding the police. If anything we’re going the other route. We’re going to make sure our police are well trained, perfectly trained, they have the best equipment,” Trump said.
The announcement came amid growing calls to defund police departments nationwide or even abolish police altogether.
The President spoke to community and faith leaders in Dallas yesterday, where he presented his vision for advancing justice and freedom in America.
It stands in stark contrast to a far-left vision of no policing, no investment, & no opportunity.https://t.co/A68ueVC88u pic.twitter.com/39sK6LLO43
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 12, 2020
The president also announced Thursday preliminary plans to build “safety and opportunity and dignity” in communities of color by increasing access to capital for minority-owned small businesses and by confronting the health care disparities that have long existed.
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