New Justice Dept. policy says agents must intervene if they see abuse
Washington PostJUL 2022
It's about time the DOJ's use-of-force policy is updated. The new order represents the modernization of policing and Biden's effort to navigate what is an extremely pertinent issue. Although limited in its ability to impose the new requirements on local police, it's a step in the right direction to addressing America's policing crisis.
Unfortunately, no amount of legislation or policy writing will solve the policing crisis. In order to effect real change we need to tackle the root cause, which is police culture. The Biden administration has failed to do this, and until they do, the pace of reform will remain stagnant.
The police crisis is not one of police brutality but rather one of a climate of animus against officers. Police have extremely dangerous jobs, and need to make quick life-or-death decisions. While acts of negligence and abuse should most certainly be prevented and punished, it seems that everyone is entitled to a presumption of innocence except our police.