U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) led a recent congressional delegation to Detroit to discuss police accountability, aggression toward police and public safety concerns with local community leaders.
Goodlatte, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, led seven bipartisan members of the Policing Strategies Working Group in the trip to Detroit.
Goodlate and U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a joint statement that members of the working group “had a most productive trip” and heard from police, community leaders and the youth on issues fueling mistrust between police and the communities they serve.
“Detroit law enforcement officers and community leaders have done much hard work to strengthen this relationship, but it is clear that challenges remain,” Goodlatte and Conyers said. “The working group will hold more roundtables to continue this discussion to determine how best Congress can address these issues at the federal level. Our visit to Detroit has strengthened our resolve to find solutions to this matter of national importance so that mutual trust and understanding will continue to grow.”
On Monday, the working group toured the Wayne County Jail booking station and mail and female housing facilities. Local law enforcement discussed challenges like officer recruitment, training, retention, funding and caring for the mentally ill during the visit.
On Tuesday, the working group held a private roundtable discussion with law enforcement officials, civil liberties advocates and youth representatives to discuss challenges that have resulted from budget cuts, mistrust, prosecutors’ growing workloads, and the need to maintain law and order.
Goodlatte and Conyers established the Police Strategies Working Group in July to explore police accountability, aggression toward police and public safety concerns.