RI Senate To Consider Review Of Police Officer's Bill Of Rights

PROVIDENCE, RI — The full Rhode Island Senate is set to consider a bill that would facilitate a review of the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, which protects officers accused of misconduct from being immediately fired or placed on unpaid leave. If approved, the legislation would create a special commission to review the policies and offer recommendations for reforms.

The bill was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and now moves to the full chamber, where it is scheduled to be considered Wednesday.

Sen. Harold Metts, the bill's sponsor, said the policy is overdue for reform.

"Public safety officers are to protect public safety, and there should not be ways to prevent those who pervert justice from being held accountable," the Providence Democrat said. "The black, brown and southeast Asian communities have long called for genuine reform of this law to protect our safety. While it shouldn’t take widely distributed videos of police brutality and murder, as well as worldwide protests, to finally bring about change, I’m hopeful that our call is finally too great to ignore."

The bill of rights was first adopted in Rhode Island in 1976. It allows officers accused of wrongdoing to avoid immediate termination, and have their future employment determined by a panel of other police officers. It has been criticized for keeping justice from being served in cases of true misconduct.

The proposed 13-member commission includes three senators, Attorney General Peter Neronha, the superintendent of the Rhode Island State police, a Rhode Island police chief, the executive director of the Rhode Island Human Rights Commission, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Providence Branch, the president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO the executive director of the Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University, the executive director of the Providence External Review Authority and two members of the public. Designated representatives can be sent on behalf of leaders, though Neronha said he will attend the sessions in-person.

The commission would review rights of residents, accountability of officers, police relations with minority groups and people of color, training and more, with a projected report date of Feb. 9, 2021.