Senator from South Carolina, Tim Scott has warned that with rising violent crimes in the United States, one thing that Congress cannot do is pass effective police reform. 

Talking on Fox News Sunday, Scott said,” One thing you cannot do in police reform is leave the impression that somehow we’re going to demonize police officers. That’s not going to happen. It can’t happen.” He added that police officers have to feel that the government is on their side.

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“When you demonize police officers when you defund police and you start talking about this war on police and prosecution and not on crime, you’re going to have a reduction in forces. And if you tell officers that their personal liability is on the line, it is a bad decision,” he added. 

The police reforms, introduced after the killing of George Floyd, are a part of the legislation that aims to combat police misconduct, excessive force, and racial bias in policing.

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Former US President Donald Trump has on numerous occasions opposed the police reforms. However, Tim Scott, who is Black by race, speaking against the legislation infuriated people on social media. Some described him as ‘Black against Black crime’.

Scott added that the use of chokeholds, no-knock warrants and a program that provides police departments with military weapons are up for debate. 

“It’s just bad policy, I won’t support it,” Scott said.

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The senator had criticised Donald Trump for failing to condemn fatal racist violence in Charlottesville in 2017. He said the president had been racially offensive when he told a group of Democratic congresswomen to go back to their countries of origin. People pointed out Scott’s comments and referred to him as a hypocrite. 

Scott launched his 2022 reelection campaign last month. 

“Sometimes you’ve got to go back to the future, and that’s a future I want to go back to,” Scott said in North Charleston, talking about the Trump administration’s accomplishments.