Obama to Police: Less Call of Duty Weapons, More Call of Data

President Obama is betting that Camden, New Jersey, is a model for how cities, communities, and law enforcement can better avoid the tragic outcomes of late in places like Ferguson, Cleveland, and Baltimore. He’s visiting Camden today to kick off a nationwide tour, during which administration officials will visit police departments to highlight examples of what the White House calls “21st Century Policing”—tactics that both reduce crime and build trust between cops and communities.

Camden was selected as a launchpad for the tour because its police department has logged a 50 percent drop in homicides since 2012. The city is also involved in a number of the White House’s signature initiatives on crime and poverty: the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge and Promise Zone initiatives, and the White House Police Data Initiative, which Obama is discussing at length today in New Jersey.