“I think I bring an equilibrium to the conversation,” the South Carolina Republican senator said.
Senator Tim Scott believes he is the right person to lead the Republican effort on police reform.
“I personally understand the pain of being stopped 18 times driving while Black,” he said on Face the Nation on Sunday. He also said the convictions of Derek Chauvin and Michael Slager (in 2015) are signs that “bad apples” will be punished.
Scott advocates for punishing the employers of bad cops, saying that entire departments will be taking on the responsibility for the behavior of all officers, not just one.
Scott said Floyd’s family members were receptive to his proposals when he met with them Thursday. And discussions have been more productive with Democrats because they are no longer looking for an issue, but a solution, he added.
Scott says that Democrats and Republicans are closer now on no-knock warrants and chokeholds, as well as the issue of getting government equipment from the military for local police, under Section 10.33.
“Significant numbers in my party have already said to me, we will go where you go on this issue as long as I can explain my position. And we’re going to do that.”
“I’ve been stopped several times in the last three years in the Capitol and on the streets throughout the country. So I’m not having a conversation about some theory or philosophy,” Scott said. “I’m saying that there is a way for us to restore more confidence from communities of color and say to our officers, we want character-driven officers responding to crises in neighborhoods.”
From Politico.