July 30, 2017
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross seemingly denounced President Donald Trump's recent comments on how police should treat people they arrest.
Speaking to uniformed officers in Long Island Friday, Trump encouraged those in attendance not to be "too nice" to prisoners or protect their heads when putting them in police vehicles.
Trump, whose presidential campaign in many ways centered around cracking down on immigration, suggested they act more like Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who he said were "rough" with the people they detain. Per CNN:
"When you see these thugs thrown into the back of a paddy wagon. You see them thrown in, rough. I said, 'Please don't be too nice,'" Trump said, mentioning observing the prisoner's heads being shielded. "I said, 'You can take the hand away.'"
On Sunday, Ross, who challenged Attorney General Jeff Sessions' claims about crime when the country's top law official visited Philadelphia earlier this month, said in a tweet clearly aimed at Trump that the department doesn't condone mistreating prisoners.
He said Philly police will "continue to treat arrested persons with respect and dignity."
Our dept does not condone the mistreatment of prisoners. We have and will continue to treat arrested persons with respect and dignity
— Richard Ross (@PPDCommish) July 29, 2017
The commissioner's comments are in line with a number of top police officials across the country who were critical of the president's comments.
