Safe Policing for Safe Communities
Safe Policing for Safe Communities is an executive order issued by President Donald J. Trump (Executive Order 13929, signed June 16, 2020) that directs federal agencies to promote reforms in policing practices at the state and local levels through three main pillars: independent credentialing of law enforcement agencies, information sharing about officer misconduct, and expansion of mental health and community-support approaches (including co-responder models). The order also calls for the Attorney General to work with relevant departments to propose new legislation and to shape grant programs that support credentialing, use-of-force reform, training, officer wellness, and community engagement. It emphasizes improving trust between police and communities, with particular attention to addressing misconduct and expanding non-punitive mental health and social service responses. Key provisions are advisory to non-federal agencies, but they condition federal grant funding on compliance (e.g., agencies seeking credentialing and submitting information). The order also outlines general provisions about authority, implementation, and the non-creation of enforceable rights. It is not a law by itself, but a directive aimed at shaping policy and funding priorities across federal, state, and local policing efforts.
Key Points
- 1Independent Credentialing and Use-of-Force Standards
- 2- State and local law enforcement agencies should assess and improve policies and procedures with independent credentialing bodies.
- 3- The Attorney General (AG) can certify independent credentialing bodies; certification requires adherence to standards on use-of-force, de-escalation, performance management (e.g., early warning systems), and community engagement.
- 4- Credentialing must verify that agencies’ use-of-force policies comply with applicable laws and prohibit chokeholds except where deadly force is legally permitted.
- 5- The AG should promote affordable, accessible credentialing for agencies of all sizes, urban and rural.
- 6Information Sharing and Accountability Database
- 7- The AG will create a database to share information about excessive use of force across federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies, while respecting privacy and due process.
- 8- The database should track terminations or de-certifications, criminal convictions related to on-duty conduct, civil judgments for improper use of force, and resignations/retirements under active investigation.
- 9- Information in the database must preserve fair process, and aggregated, anonymized data should be publicly released periodically.
- 10- Agencies that fail to provide required information may face reduced eligibility for certain DOJ discretionary grants.
- 11Mental Health, Homelessness, and Addiction
- 12- The order promotes using social services as the primary response to mental illness, homelessness, and addiction, and urges proper training for officers in encounters with these populations.
- 13- It calls for developing and expanding co-responder programs (social workers or mental health professionals working with police) and prioritizing related resources.
- 14- HHS, in coordination with the AG, will survey community-support models and deliver a 90-day report with recommendations on reallocating funds to support successful models and potential additional funding.
- 15Legislation and Grant Programs
- 16- The AG, with the White House Domestic Policy staff and OMB, will develop and propose new legislation to Congress to enhance tools and resources for better policing.
- 17- Proposals include funding for credentialing, reporting, co-responder/mental-health initiatives, de-escalation training, officer retention and recruitment, confidential mental health services for officers, and community relationship programs.
- 18General Provisions
- 19- The order does not remove or alter existing authorities of executive departments or the Director of OMB.
- 20- Implementation must comply with applicable law and available appropriations.
- 21- The order does not create any legal rights or enforceable claims against the United States or its agencies.