Hours after a grand jury decided not to indict a New York City police officer in the choking death of a black man earlier this year, President Obama said the incident is yet another reminder of how law enforcement and government must work with minority communities to rebuild trust.
Speaking at a Tribal Nations conference at the White House, the president said he wouldn’t discuss specifics of the case. But he did say that, in the wake of the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, Wednesday’s decision in New York should provide an even greater impetus for change.
“It’s time for us to make more progress than we’ve made. I’m not interested in talk. I’m interested in action, and I’m absolutely committed as president of the United States that we have a country where everybody believes in the principle that we are equal under the law,” Mr. Obama said. “We are not going to let up until we see a strengthening of the trust and a strengthening of the accountability that exists between our communities and our law enforcement.”
A New York City grand jury reportedly decided not to charge Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of 43-year-old Eric Garner, who was stopped on Staten Island on suspicion of selling illegal cigarettes.
Video shot by onlookers showed Garner resisting arrest. Officer Pantaleo then put Garner in a fatal chokehold, which is banned under city police policy.
The decision not to indict Officer Pantaleo comes just a week after a grand jury in Ferguson chose not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in connection with the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown earlier this year. The decision sparked violence and looting in the streets of Ferguson, along with protests across the country.
Mr. Obama responded by creating a task force and bringing together community, civic, law enforcement, government and faith leaders from across the country to craft changes to how law enforcement goes about its business and interacts with the communities it protects.
The president also has hinted that racial quotas in police departments may be appropriate, saying those departments should reflect the communities they serve.
Mr. Obama said Wednesday he expects his task force to make recommendations soon.
“Right now, unfortunately, we are seeing too many instances where people just do not have the confidence that people are being treated fairly,” the president said. “In some cases they may be misperceptions but in some cases, that’s a reality. It is incumbent on all of us as Americans, regardless of race, region, faith, that we recognize this is an American problem, not just a black problem, or a brown problem, or a Native American problem. This is an American problem.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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