Former Police Commissioner Ramsey: Trump's remarks to cops no joke

Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey criticized President Trump's remarks to police officers that they shouldn't be "too nice" to suspects, saying the comments "reinforce a very negative stereotype of police."

Some have argued that Trump was making a joke in his remarks to a gathering of police officers on Friday, including one that they should stop shielding detainees' heads when guiding them into police vehicles.

Ramsey wasn't buying that in an appearance on CNN Monday morning.

"This is the president of the United States. He's the commander-in-chief, not a stand-up comic," Ramsey said. "Words matter."

Police commanders around the country issued statements after Trump made his comments, reinforcing policies that officers should not use excessive force when dealing with detainees.

"I was very concerned when I first heard those remarks because I believe it reinforces a very negative stereotype of police that we've been trying to overcome: that is, that police use excessive force on a regular basis, we violate people's constitutional rights," Ramsey said. "Nothing could be further from the truth."

"Police are out there every single day, operating in a very professional manner, taking some very dangerous people off the streets, and doing so without using excessive force or violating people's rights," he said.