Trump administration halts police reform deal reached under Biden

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The Trump administration is halting federal agreements aimed at reforming police departments in cities including Minneapolis and Louisville. The agreements, known as “consent decrees,” were reached in the final weeks of the Biden administration amid investigations that found widespread police misconduct in both cities. Acting Deputy Attorney General Chad Mizell announced the pause in a memo, freezing any settlements or agreements previously reached. Trump will be inaugurated on January 20, 2025. Mizer also ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to stop finalizing or submitting new reform agreements until further notice. Consent decrees are legally binding agreements between the federal government and local police departments to implement reforms. They are used when investigations uncover patterns of inappropriate behavior, such as excessive use of force or racial discrimination. These agreements often outline specific changes that police departments must make, such as improving accountability and training, to address systemic problems. The related agreements in Louisville and Minneapolis seek to address misconduct discovered after two high-profile cases: the 2020 killing of Breonna Taylor. Louisville and the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The consent decree with Louisville follows a lengthy investigation into the city's police department after Breonna Taylor was fatally shot during a botched raid. Proposed reforms include requiring police officers to use de-escalation techniques, avoid unnecessary force and hold police officers accountable for misconduct through fair and consistent discipline. The Minneapolis agreement comes after a federal investigation found excessive use of force and racial discrimination by its police department, particularly after the death of George Floyd. The reforms focus on ending excessive use of force, eliminating racially biased policing, protecting First Amendment rights and improving interactions with youth. Both agreements have not yet been approved by a federal judge, making them vulnerable to changes by the Trump administration. Why is the Trump administration so resistant to these reforms? The Trump administration has long opposed consent decrees, arguing that they unfairly punish police departments and hinder officers' ability to do their jobs. During the campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to “back the blue,” demonstrating strong support for law enforcement even in cases involving misconduct. During his first term, Trump’s Justice Department similarly tried to block the Baltimore Police Department’s consent decree, although a federal judge ultimately rejected that move. Mizell's memo instructs Justice Department lawyers to halt all new legal actions related to the consent decree and to notify him of any agreements finalized in the past 90 days. While new administrations often review pending lawsuits to ensure they comply with their policies, legal experts say Trump's actions are broader than usual and could signal Trump's overall rejection of federal police reform efforts. The decision to halt these agreements could hinder much-needed reforms in both cities. Without consent decrees, police departments may not face the same level of accountability or pressure to address systemic problems. This is not the first time the Trump administration has tried to block a consent decree. In 2017, Trump's Justice Department tried to undo an agreement with the Baltimore Police Department that was negotiated with President Obama. However, a federal judge ruled that the agreement must move forward, saying the Justice Department's objection came too late. Like this: Like Loading… Discover more from Baller Alert Subscribe to get the latest posts delivered to your email.

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