Here’s what valley police chiefs say needs to change in their departments

After a week of protests across the valley, at least three local police chiefs say they're listening – and are speaking out about what reforms could look like for their departments.

City by city, protestors continue to demand racial justice – with demonstrations held in Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Indio, and Palm Springs.

"We hear their message; we understand," said Chief George Crum with Cathedral City Police Department.

Last Thursday, Crum and four officers stood in solidarity with protestors.

"We as law enforcement leaders need to be open to that dialogue and effecting that type of change as well," Crum said.

At a highly attended protest in Ruth Hardy Park over the weekend, Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes said he feels the community's frustration – and he's listening.

"There's always room for improvement," Reyes said. "Don't operate the way you’ve always done and believe that’s always been successful. Review your policies, your procedures, see what else you can do as far as adjustments to make things better."

Reyes said his staff has already been assigned to review policies on use of force, implicit bias training and de-escalation.

Desert Hot Springs Police Chief Jim Henson declined to interview.

But his department just banned the carotid restraint, sometimes referred to as a chokehold, like the one used by New York police officers on Eric Garner, who died in police custody in 2014.

Indio Police Chief Mike Washburn showed his support to protestors last Friday. He says policy is just a piece of police reform.

"We need to focus on all of it," Washburn said. "The trust building is the number one thing and that's what we're here for."

Tuesday night Desert Hot Springs Chief Henson will hold a community police forum at the Word of Life Fellowship Center starting at 6 p.m.

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