In a White House Rose Garden ceremony on Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will change standards of policing across the nation. Police groups backed the reforms and are generally supportive of the president in his efforts not only to tighten standards but also in fighting the “defund the police” movement that is gaining ground in some circles.

As he officially signed the order, which he said promoted “the highest professional standards,” the president also said, “These standards will be as high and as strong as there is on Earth… These are incredible people…and it’s so sad. Many of these families lost their loved ones in deadly interactions with police… All Americans mourn by your side, your loved ones will not have died in vain. I can promise to fight for justice for all of our people and I gave a commitment to all of those families… We are going to pursue what we said we will be pursuing, and we will be pursuing it strongly… As part of this new credentialing process, chokeholds will be banned except if an officer’s life is at risk.” Controversial policing tactics like the chokehold have accounted for deaths of individuals in police custody or in the process of arrest.

The White House released a statement on Monday, indicating the president “stands behind our dedicated law enforcement all the way” but that the order would aid to “uphold clear and high policing standards, promote accountability in law enforcement, and help equip police officers for constructive community engagement.”

While acknowledging the need for reform the president also emphasized his support for law enforcement: “I strongly oppose the radical and dangerous efforts to defund, dismantle and dissolve our police departments. Especially now when we’ve achieved the lowest recorded crime rates in recent history. Without police there is chaos, without law there is anarchy and without safety there is a catastrophe… When you remove the police, you hurt those who have the least, the most.” The president further commented that police officers who are accused of abusing power will not be shuffled into other police assignments and that reforms will be in place “so that officers with credible issues do not simply move from one police department to the next.”

The Fraternal Order of Police, the largest police organization in the country, put out a statement backing the executive order: “It strikes a great balance between the vital need for public and officer safety, and the equally vital need for lasting, meaningful, and enforceable police reform. In our view, President Trump and Congressional leaders are working constructively with law enforcement and community stakeholders to undertake earnest law enforcement reforms that will make our officers and the public they protect safer.”

This piece was written by PoliZette Staff on June 17, 2020. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

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