[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE LOCAL TASK FORCES ON 21ST CENTURY POLICING ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2018

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Local Task Forces on 
21st Century Policing Act, to assist localities in carrying out the 
recommendations of the federal Task Force on 21st Century Policing and 
the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing 
Services, both of which have detailed the need to strengthen relations 
between local communities and local law enforcement. The bill would 
provide grants to local governments to create local task forces on 21st 
century policing to bring police, representatives of the community and 
public officials together to identify best policing practices for local 
police and other ways to strengthen relations between the community and 
police departments. No new funds are needed. Existing funds from the 
Department of Justice would support local governments establishing the 
task forces by listing these task forces as an acceptable use of Byrne 
Justice Assistance Grants. Given the continuing controversy surrounding 
police shootings of unarmed African American men, with no solutions in 
sight, this bill is more timely every day.
  The task forces, modeled after the federal Task Force on 21st Century 
Policing, would allow local communities to identify the best ways to 
create an effective partnership between local law enforcement and the 
communities they serve, while reducing crime, increasing trust and 
combating racial profiling The task forces could create a partnership 
to implement practical policing practices acceptable to all concerned.
  The creation of task forces could be an important step toward easing 
the tensions between local law enforcement and many communities. In 
addition, the task forces could serve to engage local law enforcement 
and local stakeholders in a transparent public problem-solving process 
instead of the current situation that encourages parties to choose 
sides.

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