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  • Under the executive order I'm signing today, we will prioritize federal grants from the Department of Justice to police departments and seek independent credentialing, certifying that they meet high standards and in fact in certain cases the highest standard--that's where they do the best--on the use of force and de-escalation training.

  • For example, many believe that proper training might have prevented the tragic deaths of Antwon Rose and Botham Jean.

  • As part of this new credentialing process, choke holds will be banned except if an officer's life is at risk.

  • And I will say we've dealt with all of the various departments, and everybody said it's time.

  • We have to do it.

  • Additionally, we're looking at new advanced and powerful less-lethal weapons to help prevent deadly interactions.

  • New devices are being developed all the time, and we're looking at the best of them, and cost is no object -- no object.

  • Under this executive order, departments will also need to share of information about credible abuses so that officers with significant issues do not simply move from one police department to the next.

  • That's a problem.

  • And the heads of our police departments said: "Whatever you can do about that, please let us know."

  • We're letting you know.

  • We're doing a lot about it.

  • In addition, my order will direct federal funding to support officers in dealing with homeless individuals and those who have mental illness and substance-abuse problems.

  • We will provide more resources for co-responders, such as social workers, who can help officers manage these complex encounters.

  • And this is what they've studied and worked on all their lives.

  • They understand how to do it.

  • We're gonna get the best of them put in our police departments and working with our police.

  • We will have reform without undermining our many great and extremely talented law-enforcement officers.

  • President Obama and Vice President Biden never even tried to fix this during their eight-year period.

  • The reason they didn't try is because they had no idea how to do it.

  • And it is a complex situation.

  • Beyond the steps we are taking today, I am committed to working with Congress on additional measures.

  • Congress has started already, and they'll be having bills coming out of the Senate and possibly out of the House.

  • And hopefully, they'll all get together, and they'll come up with a solution that goes even beyond what we're signing today.

  • But this is a big, big step, a step that hasn't been taken before.

Under the executive order I'm signing today, we will prioritize federal grants from the Department of Justice to police departments and seek independent credentialing, certifying that they meet high standards and in fact in certain cases the highest standard--that's where they do the best--on the use of force and de-escalation training.

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