CRIME/POLICE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The nation’s top narcotics officer repudiated President Donald Trump’s remarks about police use of force, issuing a memo saying Drug Enforcement Administration agents must ‘always act honorably’ by maintaining ‘the very highest standards’ in the treatment of criminal suspects.
Chuck Rosenberg, who as acting DEA chief works for the president, told agency personnel world-wide in a Saturday [7-29-17] memo to disregard any suggestion that roughing up suspects would be tolerated. The memo came a day after Mr. Trump told a crowd of law-enforcement officers they shouldn’t be ‘too nice’ when arresting ‘thugs.’
‘The president, in remarks delivered yesterday in New York, condoned police misconduct regarding the treatment of individuals placed under arrest by law enforcement,’ begins the memo, titled ‘Who We Are’ and marked ‘Global Distribution.’
Mr. Rosenberg wrote that although he is certain no ‘special agent or task force officer of the DEA would mistreat a defendant,’ Mr. Trump’s comments required a response.
The White House, the Justice Department and the DEA, which is an arm of the Justice Department, declined to comment on the Rosenberg memo.”
-Jess Bravin, “Acting DEA Chief Rebuts Trump’s Remarks on Police Use of Force,” The Wall Street Journal online, Aug. 1, 2017 11:28am