Officers rip ‘BAnd-Aid’ reform
Black, Latino cops say they were left out of process
Black and Latino officers and community leaders who say they “weren’t invited to the table” and excluded from discussions on the Senate’s sweeping police reform bill are calling on lawmakers to abandon language that would put limits on qualified immunity.
“As a member of an organization that represents advocates for officers of color and as a black man, I have insight that is necessary to the issues in this bill,” said Boston Police Sgt. Eddy Chrispin, president of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, speaking from the steps of the State House on Sunday.
Chrispin said he “wholeheartedly” agrees systemic change is needed but takes issue with what he called the Senate’s hurried approach.
Patrolman David Hernandez of the Latino Law Enforcement Group of Boston said, “Let’s stop putting
Band-Aids on … let’s take our time,” a sentiment echoed by Rev. Eugene Rivers.
“In the wake of an enormous wave of protests, we in Massachusetts have an important opportunity to put in place, legislation that will hold officers to high standards. However, the current version of the bill in the Senate puts that at risk,” Rivers said.
“We were not invited to the table,” Rivers added.
Senate President Karen Spilka’s office declined to comment on Sunday evening. The Senate is scheduled to resume debate on the legislation today.
The bill’s bid to place limits on the concept of qualified immunity has drawn sharp backlash from leaders in the law enforcement community.
Senate Democrats are working to fast-track the bill with less than three weeks before the end of formal sessions. The reform package comes amid a wave of national protests triggered by the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police.
Chrispin said rather than rushing, it’s more important for the reform legislation to be done “right.”
“We are not Minneapolis, we are not Ferguson … to judge us by those standards is unfair and unreasonable,” he said.
Sen. Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton,
delayed debate on the bill three times last week via procedural maneuvers, an approach Spilka said has worn out its welcome.
In announcing the legislation last Monday, Sen. William Brownsberger said it “repeals the concept of qualified immunity.”
Spilka’s office on Sunday clarified that the legislation would not completely eliminate qualified immunity but “clarifies and limits” its use as a defense.
Brownsberger also walked back his description of the bill, saying Sunday officers would, “experience little change in their exposure to lawsuits on a day-to-day basis,” because no changes are being proposed for underlying liability or indemnification.