President Obama Arrives in Region Ahead of Camden Visit

President Barack Obama has arrived.

Air Force One landed at Philadelphia International Airport around 12:41 p.m. on Monday, White House officials said.

Obama was greeted by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. Obama commended Nutter and Philadelphia’s Emergency Response Team for their “swift work to treat the wounded and save lives after the derailment of Amtrak train 188 last week.”

Others who greeted the president upon his arrival included Sen. Bob Casey; Philadelphia Police Commissioner Chuck Ramsey; Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer; Everett Gillison, Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, City of Philadelphia; and Samantha Phillips, Director of Emergency Management, City of Philadelphia.

Based on the premise that public trust of police is the foundation for security, Obama will discuss the findings of his Task Force on 21st Century Policing report when he visits Camden later in the day.

“Without a doubt, this is a defining moment in community policing,” Ron Davis, Director of Community Oriented Policing Services at the Department of Justice, said on Sunday. “There is a widespread understanding by police that community relations need to improve.”

Davis spent 30 years as a police officer, mostly in California. He is a former SWAT team leader and police director, and he said the recommendations introduced by the White House on Monday are “reasonable recommendations to improve trust in the police force.”

That trust has been waning since the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, and less than a month after riots erupted in Baltimore after a man died in police custody.

Part of the recommendations is the establishment of new guidelines concerning the acquisition of surplus military equipment by local law enforcement agencies through a federally funded program.

Other recommendations include the release of a combined total of 101 data sets that have not previously been released to the public.

The types of data include uses of force, pedestrian and vehicle stops, citations and officer involved shootings, among others. Camden is among 21 jurisdictions that has agreed to release this type of data.

Technology teams will also work to make police data more accessible to the public in general.

As part of the president’s visit, Camden will welcome a volunteer team of technology experts and data scientists who will spend two days with the Camden County Police Department.

The goal will be for the Camden County Police Department to develop solutions to tackle issues before they become a problem.

Among other initiatives:

A Body-Worn Camera Tool Kit: Earlier this month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new pilot grant program that will help local law enforcement agencies develop, implement, and evaluate body-worn camera programs. DOJ is releasing an online clearinghouse of resources designed to help law enforcement professionals and the communities they serve plan and implement body-worn camera (BWC) programs.

Community Policing Grants: DOJ will begin taking applications for grants designed to advance the practice of community policing in law enforcement agencies through hiring, training and technical assistance, the development of innovative community policing strategies, applied research, guidebooks, and best practices that are national in scope. A total of $163 million in grants will be available.

Partnerships with National Law Enforcement Focused Organizations to Implement Recommendations: With support from DOJ, nine law enforcement-focused organizations will develop national-level, industry-wide projects for several of the pillars outlined in the Task Force Report.

Obama will hear directly about the efforts of the Camden County Police Department to build trust between their department and the community they serve during his visit.

He will tour the Real-Time Tactical Operational Intelligence Center and make a speech at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center.

He will also meet with members of the community.

Last month, Camden was named a “Promise Zone.”

It also accepted the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge last month. The challenge is aimed at ensuring all youth, including boys and young men of color, have opportunities to improve their life outcomes and overcome barriers to success.