Massachusetts lawmakers on Tuesday approved a major police reform bill, following protests over George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. Under the legislation, a new commission would have the authority to certify and decertify officers, oversee misconduct investigations and standardize training. The legislation limits qualified immunity for certified officers, which has been a legal doctrine that police officers are using to beat lawsuits that accuse them of excessive force. The measure would limit those protections if the newly established Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission decertify an officer for violating a person’s right to bias-free professional policing. The Massachusetts legislation also bans police officers from using chokeholds and restricts no-knock warrants. The Massachusetts House voted 92-67 to approve the legislation after the Senate voted 28-12 in favour. The legislation is now waiting for Governor Charlie Baker to review and sign into law.
Source: Viewers Corner News.