Norton Introduces Bill to Create Local Task Forces on Policing

Statement

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the Local Task Forces on 21st Century Policing Act, which would provide federal funds to create local task forces that bring police, the community and public officials together to identify best policing practices and other ways to strengthen relations between the community and police. The funds would encourage states and localities to implement then-President Obama's "Task Force on 21st Century Policing" report.

"It is unconscionable that Congress has done nothing to reduce police shootings," Norton said. "Unarmed African Americans continue disproportionately to be shot by police. Policing is fundamentally a local issue, but Congress can take meaningful action by providing states and localities funding to bring communities and police together to find what works for them. For too long, Congress has sat idly by while the scourge of police shootings and racial profiling goes unaddressed. My bill provides a path forward."
Norton first introduced this bill in response to the shooting of an unarmed African American man, Stephon Clark, in Sacramento and the decision of Louisiana authorities to refuse to press charges against Baton Rouge police officers who shot and killed Alton Sterling -- shootings since repeated in many other jurisdictions.

Norton's introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

on the Introduction of the Local Task Forces on 21st Century Policing Act

June 13, 2022

Madam Speaker. Today, I introduce the Local Task Forces on 21st Century Policing Act, which would 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 timelier 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.

I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

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