A task force appointed by President Obama recommended Monday greater diversity and better training of police forces to de-escalate confrontations with minorities, but backed away from the president’s proposal to put body cameras on more police.
Created largely in response to the shooting death of a black teen by a police officer last summer in Ferguson, Missouri, the task force issued a 120-page report that calls for civilian oversight boards of police departments, customized to meet community needs.
The report also calls for a “de-coupling” of immigration enforcement actions from local police duties, a perennial point of contention with federal agencies.
Task force head Charles Ramsey, police commissioner of Philadelphia, said the recommendation for local police not to prosecute illegal immigrants pertains to minor crimes, “not your serious felonies.”
“It just breaks down relationships between police and communities” when police try to enforce immigration law, Mr. Ramsey said.
The report is noncommittal on Mr. Obama’s proposal to promote the use of the body cameras. It says police who wear the cameras generally have fewer complaints against them, but also says there are privacy concerns.
“When the public does not believe its privacy is being protected by law enforcement, a breakdown in community trust can occur,” the report said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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