After Ferguson, Nutter Sends Video Message to Police

CBS Philly reports the city’s police officers are being required to watch an eight-minute video from Mayor Nutter before they hit the street during shifts over the next three days.

The video is meant as encouragement — and caution — in the wake of police controversies in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City.

In the video, the Mayor reassures officers that he knows how difficult and dangerous their jobs are. He also commends them for their success in dropping city crime rates and professionally handling recent protests peacefully.

Stating that people are not, in his words,”against policing, but against bad policing,” the Mayor cautions officers to avoid excessive force and attempt to deescalate potentially violent situations they face.

“The door of respect,” Nutter states,”swings both ways.”

Commissioner Charles Ramsey supports the message, telling CBS Philly it’s something “that officers need to hear at this time in history.”