A universally supported bill that codifies requirements for police officers to undergo de-escalation training in Indiana will head to the governor s desk after a year of rallies and protests calling for police reform.
House Bill 1006 unanimously passed through the Senate on Tuesday. In addition to training requirements, the bill allots $70 million to repair and update the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy s training facility.
It also establishes a procedure allowing the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board to decertify an officer who commits misconduct, prohibits chokeholds under certain circumstances and criminalizes an officer turning off a body worn camera to conceal criminal behavior.
Mar 16, 2021 / 07:44 PM EST
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) A bipartisan bill aimed at increasing police accountability and enacting criminal justice reform will be headed to the governor’s desk for his approval after the Indiana Senate unanimously passed the measure Tuesday.
House Bill 1006, passed unanimously by the Indiana House in February, includes provisions for mandatory de-escalation training, misdemeanor penalties for officers who turn off body cameras with intent to conceal, and bans on chokeholds in certain circumstances.
If signed into law by the governor, the bill will also establish a procedure for the law enforcement training board to decertify officers who commit misconduct, and would ease the sharing of employment records between police departments, thus helping to stop “wandering officers” from moving jobs.
Landmark Police Reform Bill Heads To Governor s Desk wboi.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wboi.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Credit Brandon Smith / IPB News
The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus says its “call to action days” – bringing advocates to the Statehouse – are making an impact on the legislature.
The increased advocacy came out of an incident earlier this session in which Black lawmakers were booed and heckled by some Republicans after raising concerns about what they saw as discrimination in a piece of legislation.
Organizations including the Indiana Muslim Alliance Network, the Indiana Minority Health Coalition, the Indiana Poor People’s Campaign, Faith in Indiana, Hoosier Women Forward and Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis showed up at the Statehouse, as did citizens from around the state. People sent letters and emails and made calls. And IBLC leaders say that advocacy has helped halt some legislation they oppose and push forward bills they support.