Posted on Dec 17, 2023
Florida bill would ban civilian police oversight statewide. Critics say that's counterproductive
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More than two dozen cities and counties in Florida could lose their independent, civilian-run police oversight agencies if a bill filed in the Florida Legislature becomes law.
The bill would effectively ban civilian oversight of police departments in Florida, and only allow police to investigate and hold themselves accountable for any potential wrongdoing.
Advocates say the prospective ban on civilian oversight of policing would betray efforts to foster better relations and trust among police and communities.
“Investigations that are done completely in-house, where information only comes and goes from internal elements to the law enforcement agency — there just tends to be less trust in that process,” said Cameron McElhinney, the Executive Director for the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, a national group.
“If something is done externally to law enforcement, that is seen — whether it's real or perceived — as more legitimate,” she added.
The bill would effectively ban civilian oversight of police departments in Florida, and only allow police to investigate and hold themselves accountable for any potential wrongdoing.
Advocates say the prospective ban on civilian oversight of policing would betray efforts to foster better relations and trust among police and communities.
“Investigations that are done completely in-house, where information only comes and goes from internal elements to the law enforcement agency — there just tends to be less trust in that process,” said Cameron McElhinney, the Executive Director for the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, a national group.
“If something is done externally to law enforcement, that is seen — whether it's real or perceived — as more legitimate,” she added.
Florida bill would ban civilian police oversight statewide. Critics say that's counterproductive
Posted from wlrn.org
Police
Law Enforcement
State of Florida
Posted 5 mo ago
Responses: 3
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Doing away with a crucial board that police can use to rebuild trust with the communities they serve is in nobody’s interest, said McCree.
In the wake of Floyd's murder in Minneapolis in 2020, police departments in big cities and rural areas have seen a severe drop in being able to solve crimes, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gallup polling shows community trust of police has dropped by 10 points since 2019, across the board: in rural, urban, Republican and Democratic-leaning areas.
“There’s an obligation to create a pathway to rebuild trust,” said McCree. “And I don’t see very many avenues to do that, other than these bodies.”
..."Doing away with a crucial board that police can use to rebuild trust with the communities they serve is in nobody’s interest, said McCree.
In the wake of Floyd's murder in Minneapolis in 2020, police departments in big cities and rural areas have seen a severe drop in being able to solve crimes, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gallup polling shows community trust of police has dropped by 10 points since 2019, across the board: in rural, urban, Republican and Democratic-leaning areas.
“There’s an obligation to create a pathway to rebuild trust,” said McCree. “And I don’t see very many avenues to do that, other than these bodies.”
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