Biden signed an executive order on reforming federal police practices.
On the second anniversary of George Floyd’s death by police officers in Minneapolis, President Biden issued an executive order to improve federal police operations and create a nationwide database of police misbehavior.
“This presidential order will usher in decades’ most dramatic overhaul of the police force. Only 100,000 federal law enforcement personnel, or all federal law enforcement officers, are immediately affected.”
“We anticipate the order to substantially influence state and local law enforcement agencies, thanks to federal incentives and best practices tied to it,” he added.
The president spoke at the White House and signed the order as the country mourns the deaths of 19 pupils and two teachers at a Texas elementary school, the bloodiest school shooting in a decade.
MORE: Biden says “the Second Amendment is not absolute” after Texas School shooting.
In the shooting aftermath, the president announced he would fly to Texas to meet with victims’ families and urged Congress to approve additional gun control legislation.
“While they will not prevent every tragedy,” Mr. Biden added, “we know that someone will have a major effect and no detrimental impact on the Second Amendment.”
“The Second Amendment does not guarantee anything.”
According to the White House, the policing order will “advance effective, accountable policing and criminal justice practices that will build public trust and strengthen public safety” by requiring federal law enforcement agencies to implement dozens of reforms and incentivizing state and local law enforcement agencies to improve their policing practices.
Two years after Floyd’s murder spurred a national reflection on police brutality, efforts to pass police reform in Congress have faltered, with a bipartisan group of senators unable to negotiate a deal during protracted deliberations last year. Mr. Biden’s order attempts to address some of the problems identified during those discussions.
At the same time, his ability to make changes on a state and local level is restricted without further legislative action.
Eric is a professional news editor, writer, and blogger for the last 10 years. He is working with NewsGater as an off-beat news editor cum writer.