Murphy Bill Focuses on Restoring Trust Between Communities And Police

Press Release

Congressman Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) was joined by Representatives Charles B. Rangel (NY-13), Mike Honda (CA-17), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) to introduce the Tracking Reputations Upgrades Societal Trust (TRUST) Act. This bill would measure public trust in law enforcement via the National Crime Victimization Survey, which is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Justice Statistics. For areas where the level of public trust in the police force is problematically low, the Attorney General would submit recommendations to improve confidence in law enforcement and address systemic problems before conflicts escalate. In addition to incentivizing partnerships to improve community relations, the TRUST Act recognizes the service of heroic law enforcement officers for their successes in building trust and working cooperatively with those they protect and serve. (Click here to read more about the TRUST Act in the Washington Post).

"Cooperation between police officers and the communities they serve reduces crime and strengthens neighborhoods. Unfortunately, the real and perceived lack of equity, dignity, and justice has eroded trust between the public and law enforcement," said Murphy. "As a CPA, I know that in order to improve any metric, you have to start by measuring it. With a renewed focus on restoring public trust we can rebuild this essential relationship that makes our communities safer and better places to live."

"I am proud to join Rep. Murphy to help build trust between law enforcement officers and the public they are committed to protecting. When people truly feel like the officers are there to serve them, communities become safer for everyone. The TRUST Act is a necessary first step in strengthening the relationship that can be improved through better understanding and accountability," said Rangel.

"The TRUST Act is a positive step forward in strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve," said Honda. "This bill employs a sensible data-driven approach in measuring the level of public trust in the law enforcement officers policing their communities and by providing a feedback mechanism to proactively address areas of concerns. This is why I am a proud cosponsor of the TRUST Act and applaud Representative Murphy's efforts to strengthen the trust and accountability of law enforcement within the communities they serve."

In addition to introducing the TRUST Act, earlier this year Murphy joined with Congresswoman Corrine Brown (FL-05) in co-sponsoring the Police CAMERA Act to provide federal funding for state and local law enforcement agencies to purchase body cameras.

Source