President Barack Obama on Monday pledged $75 million for police body cameras and millions more for training to foster more trust between police and minority communities in the wake of riots and protests over the shooting death of Michael Brown.
According to NBC News, the president said the "simmering distrust" between the two groups "is not a problem just of Ferguson, Missouri. This is a national problem."
At a White House gathering, the president announced $263 million to help outfit and train local police forces. Of that total, $75 million will be outlaid over three years to help purchase the body cameras. Local departments will have to match the funds dollar for dollar to receive them.
Obama also announced the creation of a new task force to be led by Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey and former Office of Justice Programs AG Laurie Robinson. They are tasked with creating recommendations for "21st century policing" across local departments.
"This time will be different because the president of the United States is deeply vested in making it different," he said, noting that past task forces have been largely toothless.
Last but not least, Obama said that he will make changes to a federal program that transfers military equipment to local law enforcement outfits.
"There is a big difference between our military and our local law enforcement and we don’t want those lines blurred," he said.
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