Download the Report: Community Conversations and Other Efforts to Strengthen Police-Community Relations In 49 Cities

 

Washington, DC – Mayors across the country have undertaken significant efforts to further strengthen police and community relations, a new report of 49 cities released today from The U.S. Conference of Mayors shows.

The report finds that in response to the tragic shootings in Baton Rouge, Falcon Heights, and Dallas that rocked
the nation in early July, mayors have engaged police chiefs, local leaders and others in community conversations
on race and policing, including other activities intended to improve the relationship between the police and
communities they serve.

In undertaking these efforts, mayors and other local leaders are responding to President Barack Obama’s July 13
call to all Americans – no matter who they are or where they live – to do whatever they can to foster community
conversations on race relations, justice, policing, and equality.

Today the U.S. Conference of Mayors is releasing a report that describes such efforts in 49 cities in 30 states that
submitted information to the organization. Some of these efforts were initiated specifically in response to the
President’s call and the needs of community members to come together at a difficult time; others have been
underway for some time.

“This report shows that mayors are stepping up to the challenge that the recent shootings have posed to their
communities,” said Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran. “They are working with
police chiefs, other local officials, clergy, and other community leaders during this difficult period, examining their
local situation, listening to their residents, and working in partnership with them to strengthen police/community
relations,” he continued.

On July 13 President Obama asked The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities to help
make these conversations occur – in 100 cities in 30 days. The Conference and NLC agreed to do this and have
been working with the White House to encourage mayors and other local officials to convene community
conversations. As of today 105 cities have told our two organizations that community conversations and other
activities have occurred and/or are planned.