Quick Hit:

The Biden-Harris Administration's equity commission is recommending a $20 million pilot program to deploy unarmed officers for traffic enforcement, sparking debate over police safety.

Key Details:

• The Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity suggests disarming traffic cops in favor of non-lethal enforcement methods.
• Federal data shows traffic stops are one of the most dangerous police activities, with 134 officers shot at during stops since 2021.
• The commission's recommendation aligns with Vice President Kamala Harris's past support for the "defund the police" movement.

Diving Deeper:

A Biden-Harris administration commission has proposed a controversial $20 million pilot program to remove guns and tasers from police officers during traffic stops. The Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity, revived under Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, argues that routine traffic enforcement does not require armed officers. This recommendation comes despite federal data showing that traffic stops are among the most dangerous duties for law enforcement, with at least 134 officers shot at during such stops from 2021 to 2023, resulting in 23 fatalities.

The commission, initially established during the Obama administration and reactivated in 2023, claims that non-lethal traffic enforcement could reduce the perceived systemic racism in policing. An activist member of the committee has previously argued that cars contribute to systemic racism. The committee’s report highlights a 2021 New York Times article that found over 400 individuals were killed by police during traffic stops over a five-year period, with most incidents deemed legally justified.

Critics of the proposal point to the inherent risks of traffic stops, citing several recent incidents where officers were ambushed during routine stops. For instance, a 2023 Justice Department report detailed an incident where officers were shot at while assisting a disabled motorist. Similar attacks have resulted in injuries and deaths, such as the fatal shooting of Florida trooper Joseph Bullock in 2020.

The proposal could present political challenges for Vice President Kamala Harris, who has previously expressed support for the "defund the police" movement but now seeks to position herself as a tough-on-crime leader. The Transportation Department has not commented on the potential impact of disarming traffic cops, but the issue is likely to intensify debates over police reform and public safety as the 2024 election approaches.