TRUMP COMMENTS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Black Law Enforcement Officers Speak Out on Recent Comments Made By President Donald J. Trump
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dated: Sunday July 30, 2017
During a recent speech given by Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, to law enforcement officers and others at Suffolk County Community College in Long Island, NY, the President made various statements which give the appearance of his endorsement and acceptance of the use of police brutality, excessive use of force, and unprofessional conduct by members of the law enforcement community.
It must be recognized by all that these concepts are the true genesis of the currently chaotic and shattered relationships between police and the various communities of color that they are charged with protecting. They are, in fact, the suspected source of the deaths of the more than 100 unarmed members of the African American community who have died due to police interaction between 2013 and 2016.
Comments such as those expressed by President Trump are not only irresponsible, unethical, unprofessional and unacceptable, but also promote a perception of tolerance for disrespect of the laws and professional standards that we, as law enforcement officers, have sworn our solemn oath to defend. These comments will ultimately cause, not only a further failure to remember and recognize that in every community policing initiative, COMMUNITY COMES FIRST, but a danger to the lives of every law enforcement officer throughout the nation.
The Board of Directors and General Membership of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers herein state their condemnation of the comments made by President Donald J. Trump and urge all members of the law enforcement profession to do so.
The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc, a 501.(c).(3) non-profit, is a premier national organization representing the interests and concerns of African American, Latino and other criminal justice practitioners of color serving in law enforcement, corrections, and investigative agencies throughout the United States, and the communities in which they serve.
