pbpacontact posted on March 05, 2015 13:30
Trust between law enforcement agencies and the people they protect and serve is essential to the stability of our communities, the integrity of our criminal justice system, and the safe and effective delivery of policing services.
In light of the recent events in Ferguson, Staten Island, Cleveland, and around the country, the Obama Administration announced new steps to strengthen the relationships between local police and the communities they are supposed to protect and serve. One of the primary actions was the creation of a task force to improve community policing.
On December 18, 2014, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order to create the Task Force on 21st Century Policing and announced the members.
Sean Smoot, Director and Chief Legal Counsel for the Police Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois (PB&PA) and the Policemen’s Benevolent Labor Committee (PBLC), was appointed to the Task Force by President Obama.
The Task Force examined how to strengthen public trust and foster strong relationships between local law enforcement and the communities that they protect, while also promoting effective crime reduction. The Task Force engaged with federal, state, tribal, and local officials; technical advisors; young leaders; and nongovernmental organizations to provide a transparent process to engage with the public.
TASK FORCE INTERIM REPORT
The President’s Executive Order directed the task force to prepare a report and present their recommendations; the interim report was provided to the President March 2.