President Trump Signs Executive Order On Police Reform

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on police reform during an event at the Rose Garden on Tuesday (June 16). The executive order will provide grants to departments that teach de-escalation techniques, and encourage departments to work with social workers and mental health experts.

The order would also ban chokeholds unless an officer's life is in danger, and it will create a national database on excessive force complaints.

"What is needed now is not more stoking of fear and division. We need to bring law enforcement and communities closer together, not to drive them apart," Trump said.

President Trump said that he met with the families of victims of police violence, including Botham Jean, Antwon Rose, and Atatiana Jefferson.

"These are incredible people ... and it's so sad. Many of these families lost their loved ones in deadly interactions with police ... All Americans mourn by your side, your loved ones will not have died in vain," Trump said. "I can promise to fight for justice for all of our people, and I gave a commitment to all of those families... We are going to pursue what we said we will be pursuing it, and we will be pursuing it strongly."

Trump said he is committed to reforms, but blasted the movement to defund police departments.

"I strongly oppose the radical and dangerous efforts to defund, dismantle, and dissolve our police departments. Especially now when we've achieved the lowest recorded crime rates in recent history," Trump said.

A White House official told NBC News that Trump's executive order was a "starting point" and that it is up to Congress to enact further reforms.

Democrats and Republicans are working on separate reform bills, but the Senate is unlikely to take up any legislation until after the July 4 recess.

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