Policing Law Enforcement

The first day-long public hearing of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing was held at the Newseum on January 13, 2015. President Obama signed an executive order in December to create this group of law enforcement representatives, community leaders, young adults and notable scholars in the wake of protests and racial tensions surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, and Eric Garner in Staten Island, NY. The Task Force is expected to provide an initial report to the President by March 2, 2015, with recommendations on how to improve collaboration between law enforcement and the community, promote effective crime reduction and address concerns about police violence. Four public listening sessions were held last month: two in the District and two in Ohio. Two more will take place this month in Arizona, with a final session back in Washington, D.C. on February 23. Written comments may be submitted to [email protected].