Chiefs support reform package
Seek some big changes, but just committee on qualified immunity
A major coalition of Bay State police chiefs is backing the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus’ original calls for police reform, saying they agree with changes like banning chokeholds and certifying cops — though not the sweeping qualified-immunity changes that one of the current bills would make.
“We stand proudly with the members of the Black and Latino Caucus in their vision for a 10 Point Plan that will stand to improve training for law enforcement officers, professionalize policing in general, demonstrate and demand excellence in policing programs, policies, and services, adopt best practices and proven national standards, highlight continued organizational transparency and hold all officers accountable for any and all acts of misconduct or malfeasance,” wrote Chiefs Brian Kyes of the Major City Chiefs of Police and Jeff Farnsworth of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association in a letter to legislative leaders this week.
The 10-point plan, outlined in the early days of the protests that began in late May following several highprofile police killings of minorities, includes the banning of chokeholds, a commission to certify officers and other changes involving use of force rules and civilian oversight. It also calls for a commission to look into changes to “qualified immunity,” the doctrine that prevents individual officers from being sued in many cases.
That’s the thrust of what the Black and Latino caucus sought, and is generally what the reform bill that passed the state House settled on. But the bill that passed the Senate went much further, cutting deeply into qualified immunity itself.
The chiefs wrote at the end of the letter, “It is our continued hope that a reasonable piece of police reform legislation can be adopted including what we have outlined above so that we can stand proudly with all of you at some future bill signing by our Honorable Governor publicly demonstrating our commitment to professionalism in policing here in the Commonwealth.”
A conference committee of six House and Senate lawmakers has been working behind closed doors to reconcile the differences since Tuesday.
Calls for change in policing gained traction on Beacon Hill following a wave of mass protests over recent police killings, but progress has slowed as the law enforcement community fights back against many of the proposed changes. Police groups argue limits on use of force and banning no-knock warrants will make policing more dangerous for officers and say limiting qualified immunity will make it harder to recruit new officers.
Lawmakers agreed to extend the two-year legislative session past its typical July 31 end date until January due in large part to delays and issues related to the coronavirus pandemic.