The recent news surrounding school shootings and previous accidents of police violence has brought back the debate about police equipment and functions. This month, President Biden signed a new “Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety” (Laco). This document includes several changes to what law enforcement is allowed to do and which actions are considered banned. For example, police officers cannot use chokeholds, while carotid restraints can now be utilized only in critical situations necessitating deadly force.
However, the change that has raised the debate among police groups and law enforcement organizations is the decreased provision of military equipment and vehicles to police departments. According to Laco, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), and the National Fraternal Order of Police (NFOP) directly assisted with this order; they support the proposed changes. In contrast, the National Police Association (NPA) and the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) are critical of the document.
I chose this event because it is relevant to current events and is concerned with the never-ending debate about law enforcement and public protection. This executive order is a response to the events that have been widely televised over the last few years. In particular, as the signing happened on the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, it highlights the government’s choice of pursuing police reform as a measure of control and future prevention. On the one hand, some changes made in this order may increase the quality of law enforcement services, as most major organizations agree (Laco). On the other hand, many law officers raise concerns about the limited access to military equipment for police departments. The lack of resources can damage the police’s ability to respond to incidents with the necessary backup, which puts both victims and law enforcement at risk.
Furthermore, this decision further divides law enforcement organizations on how to approach the police and public safety – through restriction or support – making this event incredibly important for all citizens. While some police officers agree that the executive order’s points can lead to better protection, others warn that such significant changes inhibit the police’s ability to fight criminal activity. Thus, the call to declare war on crime is stifled, while more restrictions are put on officers and organizations.
The topic of law enforcement is essential because it is one of the building blocks of society. The government’s decisions regarding public protection and the need to enforce state laws affect all citizens. From this article, I learned that the document raises concerns from law enforcement organizations, but I was not surprised that the current government chose to put more restrictions on police rather than increase support. I do not think that a decision about law enforcement activity can be made without including people who are directly affected by its outcome. The order may put police officers in danger and increase the risks for the public, although some of its changes may be beneficial in the long run. My interest in this topic remains, and I will continue reading the news about further developments.
Work Cited
Laco, Kelly. “Police Groups Divided on Biden’s Executive Order on Law Enforcement Reform.”Fox News, 2022.