New Push To Improve Relations Between Police & The Community
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore leaders are addressing what they call the growing tension between police and the community.
Amy Yensi explains the new proposal meant to help gain back the community's trust.
They're mainly focusing on the lack of communication--not just between police and the community, but between police and the government.
A patrol car in West Baltimore. For James Johnson, it's an unwelcome sign.
Yensi: "Do you feel you can trust police?"
Johnson: "No. Not at all."
He says the death of Freddie Gray in police custody, the riots that followed and other high-profile cases of alleged police brutality all drive the wedge between officers and the black community.
"My daughter is three years old. She sees the police and she grabs my leg now--just from hearing so much stuff," said Johnson.
"We need them everywhere. But I don't think they handle things the correct way," said Ponneice Vick.
"There is a trust gap between the people and the police department," said Senator Barbara Mikulski, (D) Maryland.
Sen. Mikulski believes police can do more. She's calling on the federal government to add stricter requirements for police departments, asking for federal funds.
They include proof of racial sensitivity and use of force training, thorough reports of all police involved deaths for the FBI and upgrading crime data sharing technology.
Sen. Mikulski says closing the trust gap takes accountability, so she's adding $20 million for body cameras that show what really happens when police and the community interact.
"Right now, the relationship is basically like... it ain't no relationship," Johnson said.
A relationship that must be repaired so they can tackle tough problems together.
The proposal passed the committee stage last Thursday. Now it's headed to the Senate floor.
Sen. Mikulski says if the reforms pass the Senate, they can be signed into law by the end of the summer.
