President Biden Signs Executive Order on Police Accountability

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By Catherine Dorrough

On the heels of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two teachers dead, President Biden released an executive order on policing and public safety. The signing took place on the second anniversary of the death of George Floyd. The order, which aims to address issues around systemic racism in U.S. institutions, was undertaken after Senate Republicans balked at passing a proposed George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

“Without public trust, law enforcement can’t do its job of serving and protecting all of our communities,” said Biden during the signing. “But as we’ve seen all too often, public trust is frayed and broken, and that undermines public safety.”

Under the order, the U.S. Attorney General will establish a new database cataloging police misconduct. The database will “include records of officer misconduct (including convictions, terminations, de-certifications, civil judgments, resignations and retirements while under investigation for serious misconduct, and sustained complaints or records of disciplinary actions for serious misconduct), as well as commendations and awards,” according to a summary released by the White House. All federal law enforcement agencies will be bound to participate in the database, and state and local agencies are encouraged to participate as well.

Among its other mandates, it also orders all federal law enforcement agencies to create and publicly post policies for body cameras, and it mandates that cameras be activated during arrests and searches. Policies must also describe a process for expediting public release of footage following incidents in which someone in custody is seriously injured or dies.

The order also contains several provisions meant to reduce and regulate federal law enforcement agencies’ use of force; publish best practices and standards to promote officer wellness; and foster a workforce that is inclusive and diverse.

“The law enforcement officers of our nation – well, they swear an oath to protect and to serve, and the vast majority do so honorably,” said Vice President Kamala Harris during the signing. “Yet we know, too often, when there is a use of biased policing and excessive force — when that occurs, it too often is not met with accountability, denying equal justice not just to individuals but to whole communities and, therefore, to our nation as a whole. Trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve is critical to ensuring public safe