1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

The Trump administration's freeze on police reform efforts by the Department of Justice is deeply concerning and threatens to perpetuate unlawful practices in law enforcement agencies across the country. Recent investigations by the DOJ have uncovered disturbing patterns of excessive force, racial discrimination, unlawful searches and seizures, and other civil rights violations in at least eight police departments. These findings underscore the urgent need for federal oversight and court-enforced consent decrees to drive meaningful reform. From Phoenix to Trenton, communities have lived under the oppressive weight of police misconduct for far too long. Unjustified killings, debtors' prisons, retaliation against critics, and sexual exploitation during undercover operations are just a few of the egregious abuses documented. The DOJ's investigations provide a rare glimpse into the systemic nature of these problems, which too often go unchecked at the local level. Without federal intervention, progress will likely stall or grind to a halt. Local leaders in places like Louisiana have already dismissed the DOJ's findings and shown no interest in addressing deeply rooted cultural issues within their police forces. This is unacceptable. The rule of law and constitutionally protected civil rights must be upheld, regardless of political pressure or institutional resistance to change. I urge you to join the call for the Department of Justice to resume its essential work on police reform cases. Prioritizing complete system overhauls through court-enforced consent decrees is critical to restoring trust, accountability, and equal justice under the law in communities plagued by police abuse. The DOJ's investigative efforts illuminate the path forward – we must not squander this opportunity for meaningful and lasting reform.