Improving the relationship with communities of color and law enforcement was the topic of a panel discussion and press conference as part of the second annual convening of Cities United, which brought together mayors and elected officials from across the United States.

“This event today has been in the planning stage for months but recent events, certainly in Baltimore, make this discussion even more timely,” said Philadelphia Mayor, Michael Nutter, in reference to the recent arrest and fatal injury of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African-American man, while he was in police custody.

Nutter commended “My Brother’s Keeper”, an initiative created in 2014 by President Obama to help close the opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color across the country — a shared objective with Cities United, which was launched in 2011 under the leadership of Nutter and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

“What’s happening in Baltimore is just one of many occurrences in cities across our nation that demonstrate why we need our cities united and so many other groups and organizations, mayors and elected officials to come together to address the many legitimate issues and concerns that Americans have across our country,” Nutter said. “This is really about the relationship between and among communities of color and law enforcement, and all citizens, and what we can all do to provide opportunities for people, especially young black men, to lift themselves out of poverty and away from negative circumstances.”

Community policing, police use of force, concerns within minority communities about police interactions, violence, lack of economic and educational opportunities, income inequality, health disparities, were among the issues addressed in the gathering.

Nutter welcomed to Philadelphia 13 U.S. mayors and more than 300 city leaders from 57 municipalities. 

The participating cities have the objective of reducing violence by 50 percent by the year 2020.

In 2013, Philadelphia Police Department Commissioner Charles Ramsey requested a review of his department from the U.S. Department of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

The initial report, released in March, cites 48 findings and offers 91 recommendations for reforming the department, including deficiencies in the department’s use of force policies and training. In response, the city created a plan and established an oversight board to implement the recommendations. 

“This will not be solved overnight and there are no easy solutions This takes time, effort, focus, and commitment,” Nutter said, “The cities, we cannot be afraid to examine ourselves in this way. All cities need to confront these issues directly”.

President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing issued a report last month, coauthored by Ramsey and Laurie robinson Laurie Robinson, professor at George Mason University and former Assistant Attorney General for DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs.  

“This is another tool that is available to all mayors and elected officials across the country who want to review its recommendations but more importantly implement changes in their own departments and across a variety other law enforcement agencies,” Nutter said.