Political Quotes

“as the Nation discusses the need for police reforms, our work in the Senate to deliver those reforms is ramping up. This afternoon, the Judiciary Committee, on which the Presiding Officer and I serve, will be holding a hearing to examine the use of force and community relations. I am glad that our witnesses include two outstanding Texas witnesses--Erin Nealy Cox, the U.S. Attorney of the Northern District of Texas, and Chief Art Acevedo, Chief of the Houston Police Department and also the chair of the Major Cities Chiefs Association. I know they will be able to help shed some light on the changes that need to be made to restore trust between officers and the communities they serve, and I appreciate their willingness to share their perspectives with us. It is important, I believe, for us to hear from a variety of sources as we debate what those potential reforms might look like: those who represent law enforcement, community and faith-based organizations, and the men and women who get up every day and put on the uniform to protect us by serving in law enforcement agencies. We need to hear from all of them. In recent weeks, African Americans across the country have shared their experiences with law enforcement--stories we have heard of being profiled, discriminated against, targeted, and having a negative perception of law enforcement that even in dangerous situations they are afraid to call the police.…”