President Barack Obama told police chiefs from across the country on Tuesday that the country is enjoying “historically low rates of violent crime” due to their efforts as he pushed for criminal justice reform and tried to bridge the divide between police and the communities they serve.
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“We’ve got to resist the false trap that says either there should be no accountability for police or that every police officer is suspect no matter what they do”, he said. “And I know you do your jobs with distinction no matter the challenges you face”, Obama said.
The conference began Saturday at McCormick Place, and on Monday, Chicago Police Supt. Obama said. “Certainly more danger to police”. “He has never been a police officer”.
After all, many law enforcement officers keep more than their standard-issue sidearm. “So you know, more guns on the street do not make you or your community safer”, he said. “Cops should not be out-armed by the criminals they’re pursuing”. “Because that’s real, we’ve got to get on top of it before it becomes an accelerating trend and that’s why I’ve asked my outstanding Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, a former prosecutor, to work aggressively with law enforcement”, said President Obama.
“There are those who criticize any gun safety reforms by pointing to my hometown as an example”, Mr. Obama said. “I refuse to accept the notion we couldn’t have prevented a few of those murders”. “It’s time to be honest”.
Obama noted that lawmakers must support reducing violent crimes by addressing overcrowding in prisons. “And you’ve shown that there are specific actions we can take that will make a difference”. The budget he sent to Congress proposes increasing funds to those sorts of police programs, Obama said. The President also met with the spouses and children of law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty as well as families of victims of gun violence in Chicago.
Obama’s positive comments about police are in a few measure a factor of knowing his audience. Over the last 20 years, police have helped cut the violent crime rate and the homicide rate in America by nearly half.
Obama has renewed his push for new gun laws following a mass shooting earlier this month at a community college in Oregon.
Obama will say political candidates, cable news coverage and people using Twitter have unnecessarily played up tensions between police and civilians.
He said that police officers can contribute to a better system by integrating themselves into their communities and getting to know the people who make them up. “Instead of having debates over talk radio, we have to listen to each other”. He also spoke about his personal experience with racial profiling. He said that when he was younger, before he had a motorcade, he would be pulled over without reason.
At the same time, the president argued that data shows there is “some racial bias in the system”.
Speaking at the University of Chicago Law School this week, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey offered one reason he believes explains the rise in violence: citizens filming police.
Mr Obama acknowledged that the stereotypes misunderstanding between the police officers and minority communities is unlikely to go overnight. “That we want their safety, that they’re protected, and we’re their friends”.
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President Obama addressed the worldwide Association of Chiefs of Police in Chicago today.
