PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed the Law Enforcement Officers’ Due Process, Accountability and Transparency Act, a reform to the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights. The legislation establishes a five-member hearing committee consisting of three qualified and randomly selected law enforcement officers, a retired judge, and an attorney, a two-tier suspension structure ranging from a five to 14-day summary suspension, and requires the status of all hearings to be published online. “The passage of this legislation is the result of a positive and powerful collaboration between community groups, legislative leaders and members of law enforcement,” Warwick Police Chief and President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association Bradford Connor said. “We welcome increased transparency because it will help us gain trust with the communities we serve. We are grateful to our legislative leaders for making meaningful and needed changes to the law.” The Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC released a statement expressing disappointment after the House did not include an amendment, titled the “George Floyd Litmus Test,” in the bill. The amendment would create a “carve out” in LEOBOR allowing an officer to be fired in certain cases where they used deadly force. “Despite the haunting potential that a police officer unjustly murders a citizen, a super majority Democrat Rhode Island House of Representatives expressed, through their actions, that they do not value the lives of Rhode Island residents if it comes at the cost of ensuring that police in this state are protected under LEOBOR,” part of the statement reads. The full statement by BLM RI PAC can be read below: Conversations calling into question the necessity and impact on the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) began four years ago during the Black Lives Matter protests following the murder of George Floyd by officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A time in which thousands of Rhode Islanders marched in the streets to call for increased police accountability both within the state and federally. Four years later, those calls have gone entirely unanswered. Had the very same scenario happened in Rhode Island today, any officer who commits such a heinous act could not be immediately fired from the police force due to the continued existence of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights. Since the onset of these protests, we have joined hand in hand the constant struggle advocating with Rhode Islanders directly impacted by police violence, The Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American & Pacific Islander caucus, The NAACP Providence branch, The ACLU of Rhode Island, alongside lawmakers and communities of color, amongst many others, in demanding necessary changes be made to any LEOBOR reform bill. Despite the haunting potential that a police officer unjustly murders a citizen, a super majority Democrat Rhode Island House of Representatives expressed, through their actions, that they do not value the lives of Rhode Island residents if it comes at the cost of ensuring that police in this state are protected under LEOBOR. While this legislation has been named the The Law Enforcement Officers’ Due Process, Accountability, and Transparency Act, BLM RI PAC emphasizes that this is furthest from the truth. The BLM RI PAC expresses extreme disappointment with the outcome of this bill, and will continue to be one of the leading advocates calling for the complete repeal of LEOBOR. Attorney General Peter Neronha released the following statement after the passage of the bill: “I am pleased to see that that the Law Enforcement Officers’ Due Process Accountability and Transparency Act passed today in the House of Representatives. This legislation will help law enforcement better serve their communities and hold accountable those who break the public’s trust. While there is undoubtedly work left to be done, I applaud the General Assembly, community members, law enforcement agencies and others who have contributed to this important effort to improve policing in Rhode Island. I want to thank Speaker Shekarchi and Deputy Speaker and bill sponsor Raymond A. Hull for their work in passing this important legislation in the House, and Senate President Ruggerio for his efforts in the expected forthcoming action in the Senate.” The amended bills now head to the Senate. Categories: News, Rhode Island