New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
GOP leaders noncommital on police reform bill
Republicans leaders of the General Assembly’s law-writing committee were noncommittal Friday on whether they will support even part of a sweeping police reform bill that will be the focus of the General Assembly’s special session later this month in response to Black Lives Matter and the growing movement to better hold police responsible for excessive force.
State Rep. Rosa Rebimbas and Sen. John Kissel, ranking members of the Judiciary Committee, while appearing with Democratic committee leaders to announce the legislation, said their perspective was voiced during the drafting of the bill, which they hope will be fully aired in an eventual public hearing.
But while their names appeared on a joint news release on Thursday night when the proposal was posted on the committee’s
website, Rebimbas and Kissel said they will not voice opinions until after a full hearing and discussions with fellow Republicans, who are pronounced minorities in both the Senate and House.
Under the 65-page bill released Thursday night, civilian review boards with subpoena power to investigate police malfeasance, mandatory body and dashboard cameras and the possibility of banning cops from the profession for life would be centerpieces.
It would create a new inspector general within the state’s Division of Criminal Justice, with the power to investigate and prosecute law enforcement officials involved in excessive-force incidents. And it would take steps to advance the hiring of more minority police officers.
“I just want to let everyone know that I have not personally endorsed this proposal,” said Kissel, a veteran committee member from Enfield. “I can’t predict whether there will be votes from my caucus on this bill. This is the beginning of a process. These are issues that have been around for years. Where we end up, I don’t know.”
Gov. Ned Lamont, after an unrelated event in Fairfield, said he is looking forward to studying the bill further. He credited state Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, and Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, cochairmen of the Judiciary Committee, with presenting a reasonable draft proposal.
“I’m told there’s some bipartisan support there and now we’re going to take a look at it and see what it means for good policing,” Lamont said. “We’re taking a look at it, talking to all the stakeholders.”
The governor, who has a security detail of state troopers, said he spends a lot of time talking with them.
Earlier in the pandemic, he ordered an end to the use of so-called chokeholds unless police feel threatened.
Reminded by a reporter that the proposal includes recertification training every three years for police, and for the first time state troopers too, Lamont said: “I think I’ll probably be getting feedback on that pretty soon, but not yet.”
Earlier, in a written statement, the governor said it’s a crucial moment in U.S. history.
“Following the murder of George Floyd, more attention has been paid, in a meaningful way, to other incidents at the hands of law enforcement,” Lamont said. “The time is now for meaningful police accountability reforms.”
The form of the hearing is unclear at this point, because of the closure of the state Capitol in the coronavirus pandemic, which suspended the General Assembly in mid-session on March 12, causing a historic shutdown with little legislation at the deadline in early May.