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JAY GRAY, WE THANK YOU.
LIVE IN HOUSTON.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
>>> LOCAL LAWMAKERS ARE TALKING
ABOUT HOW TO REFORM POLICE
DEPARTMENTS AFTER GEORGE FLOYD’S
DEATH.
THE D.C. COUNCIL TOOK UP SOME
EMERGENCY LEGISLATION TODAY.
IT PROHIBITS THE USE OF NECK
RESTRAINTS, GIVES THE PUBLIC AND
DISTRICT OFFICIALS MORE ACCESS
TO BODY-WORN CAMERA FOOTAGE,
EXPANDS THE OFFICE OF POLICE
COMPLAINTS AND THE USE OF FORCE
REVIEW BOARD, AND IT MAKES
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
NON-NEGOTIABLE IN THE POLICE
UNION CONTRACT.
NEWS 4’S CORY SMITH IS LIVE
OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE TO
EXPLAIN HOW THE COUNCIL ANSWERED
CALLS FROM PROTESTERS TO
DEMILITARIZE AND DEFUND THE
POLICE.
CORY?
>> Reporter: WELL, DOREEN, JUST
THINK ABOUT THE LAST FEW DAYS.
YOU HAD ALL OFFICERS -- AND THEN
TODAY YOU HAD THIS UNANIMOUS
APPROVAL BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON
THE EMERGENCY POLICE REFORM
MEASURES.
FOR ALL THE PROTESTERS OUT HERE
THAT CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR
VOICES HEARD THEY ARE CLAIMING
VICTORY, ALBEIT A SMALL ONE.
YES, THERE IS SOME CHANGE COMING
TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE IS ALSO CHANGE COMING THAT
WOULD PREVENT WHAT WE SAW HAPPEN
HERE LAST WEEK FROM HAPPENING
AGAIN.
>> I THINK THAT WE ARE IN A
PLACE WHERE THIS BODY IS ABLE TO
MAKE MORE SIGNIFICANT, MORE
TRANSFORMATIONAL TYPE OF
CHANGES.
>> Reporter: AFTER MORE THAN A
WEEK OF PROTESTS D.C. COUNCIL
MEMBERS SAY THEY RECOGNIZE THE
TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW.
TODAY THE GROUP STARTED BY
APPROVING EMERGENCY LEGISLATION
THAT INCLUDES SEVERAL MEASURES
PROTESTERS DEMANDED.
>> THESE REFORMS TODAY WILL MAKE
US ALL SAFER.
CRIME SURVIVORS, RESIDENTS WHO
NEVER HAVE TO INTERACT WITH
PEOPLE, AND THE POLICE
THEMSELVES.
>> Reporter: AFTER LAST WEEK’S
HEAVY-HANDED RESPONSE BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT THE COUNCIL VOTED TO
PROHIBIT MPD FROM USING TEAR
GAS, PEPPER SPRAY, RUBBER
BULLETS OR STUN GRENADES TO
DISPERSE THE CROWD AND MPD CAN
NO LONGER HIRE OFFICERS WAY
HISTORY OF MISCONDUCT IN OTHER
DEPARTMENTS.
COUNCILMAN GROSSO SAYS IT HAD
CAN HELP DEMILITARIZE POLICE AND
IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH THE
COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
>> THIS IS THE CORE 6 WHAT
THEY’RE ASKING US TO DO.
THEY’RE SAYING THE LOCAL POLICE
FORCE NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN
THE THINGS THAT MATTER TO LOCAL
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> Reporter: SHORTLY AFTER
TODAY’S VOTE THE POLICE UION
RESPONDED SAYING, "WHAT WE SAW
TODAY WAS A DISSERVICE TO THE
CITIZENS OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA WHO HAVE BEEN PLAGUED
WITH VIOLENT CRIME FOR YEARS."
THERE IS NO NEED FOR THIS
SWEEPING REFORM TO BE COMPLETED
IN SUCH A HASTY AND UNTHOUGHTFUL
MANNER.
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SEIZING
ON THE PUBLIC SENTIMENT TO
IMPOSE THESE CHANGES THAT WILL
SIGNIFICANTLY HANDICAP THE
DEPARTMENT FOR YEARS TO COME.
THE LEGISLATION IS ONLY
TEMPORARY AND MORE DISCUSSION
WILL FOLLOW BEFORE ANY MEASURES
BECOME PERMANENT.
BUT ALLEN CALLED TODAY A GOOD
FIRST STEP.
>> THE NEED FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE
IS SO GREAT WE NEED TO HAVE A
REAL DIALOGUE.
A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DIALOGUE
ABOUT THE POLITICAL COURAGE IT
WILL TAKE TO ACTUALLY DISMANTLE
WHAT WE HAVE BUILT.
>> Reporter: BACK OUT HERE LIVE
YOU CAN SEE THE FESTIVAL TYPE
ATMOSPHERE CONTINUES.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE PROTESTS
AFTER THIS FENCE COMES DOWN
TOMORROW.
WE ALSO DON’T KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THESE
SIGNS.
WE’LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT RIGHT
NOW THE MPD BUDGET IS BEING
DISCUSSED INSIDE THE WILSON
BUILDING.