President Obama interrupted his holiday vacation in Hawaii Sunday to call Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, the recently appointed chair of his Task Force on 21st Century Policing, to express outrage over the killings of two police officers in New York over the weekend.
The two officers were killed Saturday in Brooklyn after a gunman ambushed their squad car and opened fire on them in apparent retribution for the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. White police officers killed both Garner and Brown and juries subsequently didn’t charge the officers for the deaths, setting off a public outcry and series of protests across the nation.
Referring to the killings as “senseless murder,” Obama expressed support for Ramsey’s repeated calls condemning the violent reactions to the juries’ decisions in the Garner and Brown cases, according to a White House read-out of the phone call released Sunday night.
Obama then asked Ramsey to use the Task Force to further this message and explore “meaningful ways to engage law enforcement officials from across the nation” in an effort to rebuild trust between the black community and law enforcement.
“The president reiterated his profound respect and gratitude for all law enforcement officers who serve and protect our communities, risking their own safety for ours every day,” the White House said.
He also offered his assistance, and said administration officials will continue to monitor the situation in New York.
