Commissioner Ramsey In DC For First Public Task Force Meeting
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Philly's Top Cop is in Washington DC today for the first public meeting of a policing task force set up in the wake of grand jury decisions in New York and Ferguson, Missouri.
It's the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey is co-chair of this group that the White House put together last month. Today's public meeting called a "Listening Session." Law enforcement, educators, community and political leaders are set to discuss ways to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the citizens they serve. They'll also talk about better practices, crime reduction and concerns about violence directed at officers.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey is co-chair, and Mayor Nutter will join the Mayors of Baltimore and Sacramento as part of the last discussion of the day.
Among the issues this task force is set to look at is body cameras for cops. Ramsey admits technology won't solve all of the problems, but he is a proponent of the use of body cameras. here in Philadelphia, the 22nd police district is testing them out.
The task force was sparked by the racial tension and protests following grand jury decisions to not indict white police officers in the chokehold death of Eric Garner in Staten island and the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson.
The task force's initial report is due to the President in March.