Obama To Meet Police Chiefs After Shootings

Obama To Meet Police Chiefs

US President Barack Obama is to meet police chiefs after a series of shootings that have led to unrest across the US.

It comes as funerals begin for the five police officers shot dead by a sniper in Dallas last week.

As well as police, the meeting at the White House is also being attended by mayors, academics and civil rights activists.

“We’ll share solutions from communities that have already found ways to build trust and reduce disparities,” Mr Obama said on Facebook.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the President is hoping the talks will result in positive steps to improve relations between police and ethnic minorities.

“Even the most optimistic assessment of what could happen doesn’t leave anybody concluding that all the problems are going to be solved,” he said.

“But the President is hopeful that while the country is focused on this issue, that we can reprioritise and re-energise the search for common ground.”

On Monday Mr Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met representatives from eight police organisations.

Afterwards Mr Biden told CNN that some had voiced concerns for the safety of their members.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever heard police organisations say ‘My guys are frightened’,” he said.

The following day Mr Obama flew to Dallas to lead a memorial service for the five officers killed by former US army reservist Micah Johnson.

The 25-year-old opened fire during a Back Lives Matter protest over

The following day Mr Obama flew to Dallas to lead a memorial service for the five officers killed by former US army reservist Micah Johnson.

The 25-year-old opened fire during a Back Lives Matter protest over the deaths of two black men at the hands of police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He was later killed by a robot bomb after being cornered and refusing to surrender.

The funerals of three of the Dallas officers are being held later.

They are Senior Corporal Lorne Ahrens, Sergeant Michael Smith and Rapid Transit Officer Brent Thompson.

Officer Michael Krol’s funeral is set for Friday, while a service for Officer Patrick Zamarripa will take place on Saturday.

He was later killed by a robot bomb after being cornered and refusing to surrender.

The funerals of three of the Dallas officers are being held later.

They are Senior Corporal Lorne Ahrens, Sergeant Michael Smith and Rapid Transit Officer Brent Thompson.

Officer Michael Krol’s funeral is set for Friday, while a service for Officer Patrick Zamarripa will take place on Saturday.

Posted in USA