Radio Recap – President Trump Unveils Executive Order on Police Reform

President Trump unveiled a new Executive Order today on police reform.

On today’s Jay Sekulow Live, we discussed President Trump issuing an Executive Order dealing with police reform. We also discussed the legislation that Senator Tim Scott is working on dealing with the same issue.

The President signed the Executive Order while we were live on the broadcast. The Executive Order addresses standards of force, banning chokeholds unless the officer’s life is in danger, background sharing information, and more.

The Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities says in part:

As Americans, we believe that all persons are created equal and endowed with the inalienable rights to life and liberty.  A fundamental purpose of government is to secure these inalienable rights.  Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement officers place their lives at risk every day to ensure that these rights are preserved.

Law enforcement officers provide the essential protection that all Americans require to raise their families and lead productive lives.  The relationship between our fellow citizens and law enforcement officers is an important element in their ability to provide that protection.  By working directly with their communities, law enforcement officers can help foster a safe environment where we all can prosper.

The Order talks about standards and credentialing as set by the Attorney General:

The Attorney General shall certify independent credentialing bodies that meet standards to be set by the Attorney General.  Reputable, independent credentialing bodies, eligible for certification by the Attorney General, should address certain topics in their reviews, such as policies and training regarding use-of-force and de-escalation techniques; performance management tools, such as early warning systems that help to identify officers who may require intervention; and best practices regarding community engagement.

It also addresses chokeholds:

The State or local law enforcement agency’s use-of-force policies prohibit the use of chokeholds — a physical maneuver that restricts an individual’s ability to breathe for the purposes of incapacitation — except in those situations where the use of deadly force is allowed by law.

President Trump, during his remarks also addressed school choice:

We’re fighting for school choice . . . . Frankly, school choice is the civil rights statement of the year, of the decade and probably beyond; because all children have to have access to quality education. A child’s zip code in America should never determine their future and that’s what was happening. So we are very strong on school choice.

The full broadcast is complete with more discussion of the President’s action on police reform as well as the legislative work Senator Tim Scott is doing.

Watch the full broadcast below.