In last night’s vice presidential debate, Republican Mike Pence gave an impassioned defense of police officers and running mate Donald Trump’s call for increased “law and order” as he and Democrat Tim Kaine two tangled over how to handle rising tensions over the deaths of black men at the hands of police officers, McClatchy Newspapers reports.
“Let’s not have the reflex of assuming the worst of men and women in law enforcement,” Pence said. “Law enforcement in this country is a force for good.” He charged that “broad-brush generalizations of bias … demean law enforcement broadly.” Kaine countered that “people shouldn’t be afraid to bring up bias in law enforcement.” Pence defended Trump’s support for the controversial policing tactic known as stop-and-frisk, while Kaine warned it would be a “big mistake” that could worse racial polarization.