releases: http://reichert.house.gov/press-release/reichert-pascrell-call-strengthened-police-community-relations-new-year
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://reichert.house.gov/press-release/reichert-pascrell-call-strengthened-police-community-relations-new-year | Reichert, Pascrell Call for Strengthened Police-Community Relations in the New Year | 2016-12-28 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | WA | Dave Reichert | R000578 | reichert.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – It has been a tough year for our nation’s law enforcement officers, their families, communities, and our country. To date, 138 law enforcement officers have lost their lives, representing a 20 percent increase over 2015. On behalf of the House Law Enforcement Caucus, Co-Chairs Reps. Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) released the following statement calling for all Americans, inside the law enforcement community and out, to reflect on our responsibilities and work together to build trust and positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve: "Since the inception of the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus in the House of Representatives, it has been our goal to examine ways in which we can improve the safety of our law enforcement officers while simultaneously improving safety in our neighborhoods. With growing tensions between law enforcement and some of the communities they serve, this task has become increasingly urgent. Working to relieve these tensions and protect the safety of both those in and out of uniform must begin and end with rebuilding trust and respect within the communities where it has deteriorated or never existed in the first place. These changes must take place in our homes, classrooms, local diners, and on streets being patrolled, but change must also come from those with influence. Elected representatives, community leaders, and members of the press who hold this influence shoulder the burden to speak out. If we are truly committed to improving safety and preventing unnecessary deaths, then we must not seek to reaffirm our biases, but to widen the lens of our perspective and join the national conversation taking place. We believe the Law Enforcement Caucus has an important role to play in facilitating those conversations and working together to find common ground on solutions. Law enforcement deserves the respect of the communities they serve – and communities deserve the respect of law enforcement. We must also not forget that the power of police to fulfill their duties is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions and behavior, and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect. This respect must be earned, but it can only come about if community members work to understand the sacrifices law enforcement officers make on their behalf and law enforcement works to understand the communities and populations they serve. As we move into a new year, we must look to the future with optimism and the belief that every American, first and foremost, wants and deserves to feel safe and protected in their community. With the understanding that this shared goal is immune to differences in demographics and geography, we must remind ourselves that we are all Americans, working together on the same team. From there, guided by facts and grounded by common principles, we can work to strengthen and rebuild the police-community partnerships that are the foundation of civility and a functioning democracy." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |