Trump signs executive order on police reforms

June 17, 2020 09:22

United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order encouraging police departments to adopt best practices and "highest professional standards" amid calls for police reforms following nationwide protests over the brutal killing of African-American George Floyd in police custody.

Floyd, 46, died in Minneapolis on May 25 when a white police officer pinned him to the ground and knelt on his neck while he gasped for breath, triggering nationwide violent protests against police brutality and racial injustice.

"Today, I am signing an executive order encouraging police departments nationwide to adopt the highest professional standards to serve their communities. These standards will be as high and as strong as there is on earth. The vast majority of police officers are selfless and courageous public servants," Trump said in the Rose Garden of the White House.

"They are great men and women. When others run away from danger, police run straight into harm's way, often putting their lives at stake to protect someone who they don't know, or never even met. Great danger," he said amidst growing call by his political opponents and rights bodies to dismantle local police.

Trump said he strongly oppose the radical and dangerous efforts to defend, dismantle, and dissolve the police departments, especially now when they have achieved the lowest recorded crime rates in recent history.

"Americans know the truth. Without police, there is chaos. Without law, there is anarchy. And without safety, there is catastrophe," he said.

"We need leaders at every level of government who have the moral clarity to state these obvious facts. Americans believe we must support the brave men and women in blue who police our streets and keep us safe. Americans also believe we must improve accountability, increase transparency, and invest more resources in police training, recruiting, and community engagement," said the president.

"Reducing crime and raising standards are not opposite goals. They are not mutually exclusive. They work together--they all work together," he said. -- PTI

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