Trump promises ‘elegant justice’ as he restricts use of chokeholds
DONALD TRUMP yesterday signed an executive order encouraging changes to police tactics, including restricting the use of chokeholds, as he vowed to bring “elegant justice” to America.
The US president held a signing ceremony at the White House, implementing his first policy changes to counter the concerns raised by George Floyd’s death in police custody last month. Police will be told that chokeholds, which restrict an individual’s ability to breathe and are used sometimes during arrests, should not be used unless an officer’s life is in danger.
Mr Trump called the change a “ban”, but the executive order’s wording fell short of implementing an outright ban.
The issue is being closely watched after Mr Floyd, a black American, died when he was pinned down with a white officer’s knee on his neck for almost nine minutes.
The US president also announced that a nationwide database for “bad cops” would be created, logging information such as past improper use of force.
Mr Trump called for greater use of social workers to respond to incidents along with police, especially in instances when someone is believed to have mental health issues.
“We try to deliver safe, beautiful, elegant justice”, Mr Trump said in the White House’s Rose Garden as he made the announcement alongside police officers in uniform.
“We have to break old patterns failure”, he added.
There was some positive reaction to Mr Trump’s policy changes from police reform campaigners, especially over the new database and moves against chokeholds.
However, as full details of the executive order’s wording emerged, others insisted the changes did not go far enough.
Vanita Gupta, head of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said in a statement: “While the order takes some steps forward, it is an inadequate response to a nation demanding sweeping, bold action.”
Mr Trump’s move came as the commissioner of the New York Police department, the largest police force in the US with 34,000 active officers, announced “seismic” reforms.
Dermot Shea announced on Monday that the force would shut down its “anti-crime” plain-clothes unit and move its 600 officers to other duties.