Lawmakers, Community Groups Calling for Repeal of Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights
Thursday, May 06, 2021
Community groups and Rhode Island lawmakers are calling for a full repeal of the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights (LEOBOR).
A press conference, led by the "Providence Mayor's African Ambassadors Group," is taking place on Thursday at 11 a.m. in front of the Providence Public Safety complex.
"Rishod Gore [was a] victim of felony assault when he was kicked and had his face crushed into concrete by Sgt. Joseph Hanley, a 17 year veteran of the force who was charged and found guilty of simple assault," said the group. "The police department [did not] immediately remove this criminal without pay is a direct consequence of LEOBOR."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe group cited other examples of why they believe the LEOBOR should be rescinded, including Michael Clark, a former police recruit suing the Providence police alleging humiliation racial discrimination, Providence Firefighter Terrell Paci saying he was racially profiled when two police officers drew their guns on him, and the 2017 police chase which "resulted in the death of an innocent man Joseph Santos and serious injury to his passenger."
"Police use of force disproportionately targets African Americans. The police department lacks transparency and submits inconsistent police reports," said the group. "LEOBOR gives special rights to police officers beyond the constitution. In Rhode Island, we have police misconduct that is shielded from accountability by LEOBOR."
Calling for Repeal
Rhode Island State Senator Tiara Mack is the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 773 to repeal LEOBOR and it is co-sponsored by Senators Samuel Bell and Jonathon Acosta.
"Under LEOBOR an officer can only be suspended for two days," says the group. "Repeal gives police officers the same protections as every other state/city public servant."
"Under LEOBOR the discipline hearing panel consists of three people, one is chosen by the police chief, one by the officer accused, and one "neutral" chosen in the agreement of the two other arbitrators," the group continues. "Repeal would allow the police chief to determine appropriate action, restoring accountability for misconduct to the police department."
"Under LEOBOR Police Chiefs and Political leaders are prohibited from talking about the discipline officers may or may not receive. Repeal has no limitations on statements, the same standards as every other state/city public servant," they add. "Anything short of a full repeal-- is unacceptable. Time is now for a full repeal, replacing it with explicitly granting law enforcement the same protections and procedures applied to all city/state public servants."
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