David Clarke: Justice Department ‘Trying to Emasculate’ Police

‘It ties them up with reports inside station houses instead of out in these communities serving the people who need them the most’

CLARKE: “Well, first of all, some of the things you raise, none of that’s proven, those things are thrown about. I want to see the data to suggest any of that stuff is actually going on here. First of all, we have too much involvement from the Department of Justice who are trying to emasculate law enforcement officers, federalize these agencies. It ties them up with reports inside station houses instead of out in these communities serving the people who need them the most. One of the things that I think needs to happen here is for the political class all across the United States who engage in this slime throwing for some cheap political points to back off, knock it off, let us go back to work. Keep an eye on us, sure, I have no problem with that. I do that on a daily basis here in my own organization, but I don’t need any involvement from the federal government, and I don’t need these politicians out there trying to score cheap political points at the expense of the American law enforcement officer. And once we feel confident enough that we have the support of the political class — we know we have the support of these communities. I don’t care what people are saying. We could not get this done if we didn’t. But once we realize that we have the support of the political class who aren’t going to use us for political purposes, you’ll see more assertive policing. You’ll see more self-initiated and proactive policing.”

Video files
Full
Compact
Audio files
Full
Compact