President Biden’s Policing Executive Order is a first step, but more reforms in federal policing are necessary

WASHINGTON, D.C.  —  President Biden signed an Executive Order to reform federal policing on the anniversary of the killing of Mr. George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement. 
 
The executive order directs all federal agencies to adopt or revise their use-of-force policies. It also creates a national registry of police misconduct; encourages state and local police to impose new restrictions on chokeholds and no-knock warrants; as well as prohibits the transfer of most military equipment to law enforcement agencies. 
 
The following is a statement from the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Chief of Staff and Culture, Lecia Brooks. 
 
“President Biden’s Executive Order to reform policing is a step in the right direction. Holding officers accountable for police violence by restricting chokeholds and no-knock warrants are common sense reforms. Yet, deadly incidents and harmful threats to Black and Brown communities continue to happen since Mr. Floyd's death. We know that training is insufficient to address the major issues in policing. There must be a new approach to public safety.  It is our hope that this executive order is a catalyst for legislative and procedural change at the federal, state, and local level."