Wednesday, December 13, 2023

New Bill Would Eliminate Florida’s Police Citizen Review Boards. What To Know About HB 601

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A new bill, HB 601, has been proposed in Florida that aims to eliminate the state's police citizen review boards. According to the bill's sponsor, Representative Duggan, the boards create uncertainty and stress for law enforcement officers, as they are not consistent in their operations and can drag on for a long time. Duggan believes that this can discourage talented individuals from pursuing careers in law enforcement, ultimately making the public less safe.

The police citizen review boards were established to provide an independent and impartial review of complaints against law enforcement officers. These boards consist of volunteers or appointees who review how police departments accept and investigate complaints, and make recommendations to the police chief or sheriff. While the boards have no official enforcement power, they play an important role in ensuring that law enforcement agencies are accountable to the communities they serve.

However, the bill's proponents argue that the boards are not uniform in their operations and can create unnecessary delays and costs for law enforcement ag [+]

Duggan, R-Jacksonville, said locally created civilian panels prevent talented people from coming to law enforcement jobs in Florida because they are not consistent and they add uncertainty to what's "already a very stressful profession."

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