Across U.S., chiefs blast Trump for endorsing ‘police brutality’
The Washington Post
Police leaders across the countrymoved quickly to distance themselves from —- or to outright condemn — President Donald Trump’s statements about “roughing up” peoplewho’ve been arrested.
The swift public denunciations came as departments are under intense pressure to stamp out brutality and excessive force that can erode the relationship between officers and the people they police — and cost police chiefs their jobs.
Some police leaders worried that three sentences uttered by the president during a Long Island, N.Y., speech could upend nearly three decades of fence-mending since the 1991 Los Angeles Police Department beating of Rodney King ushered in an era of distrust of police.
“It’s the wrong message,” saidChuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. “The last thing we need is a green light from the president of the United States for officers to useunnecessary force.”
Mr. Trump made the comments at a gathering of law enforcement officers at Suffolk County Community College in New York.
“When you guys put somebodyin the car and you’re protecting their head, you know, the way you put their hand over?” Mr. Trump said, miming the physical motion of an officer shielding a suspect’s head to keep it from bumping againstthe squad car.
“Like, don’t hit their head, and they just killed somebody — don’t hit their head,” Mr. Trump continued. “I said, you can take the hand away, okay?”
Mr. Trump’s remarks came after he spoke about local towns ravaged by gang violence. Across the country, police department leaders said the president’s words didn’t reflect their views.
A tweet from the Gainesville Police Department read “The @POTUS made remarks today that endorsed and condoned police brutality. GPD rejects these remarks and continues to serve with respect.”
Mr. Trump’s comments also drew a rebuke from the International Association of Chiefsof Police. In a statement Friday, the group did not specifically mention Mr. Trump by name, but appeared to respond to his speech by stressing the importance of treating all people, including suspects, withrespect.
In a statement, Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole said: “Seattle’s police officers have embraced reform and have worked incredibly hard to build community trust. We donot intend to go backwards. It is truly unfortunate that in today’s toxic environment, politicians at both ends of the spectrum have sought to inflame passions by politicizing what we do. We remain committed to our principles and reject irresponsible statements that threaten to undermine our relationship with thecommunity.”