• Home
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Categories
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

The ‘Justice in Policing’ reform bill is a sham—here’s why

Much of the bill is limited to federal law enforcement, but politicians aren't touting that

March 5, 2021
Robert JohnsonbyRobert Johnson
in Editorial
1.3k
SHARES
5.6k
VIEWS
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

The House of Representatives passed the “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act” (H.R. 7120) with a 220-212 vote along political party lines. This so-called “police reform bill” is being touted by President Biden, Democrats, and others as a way to reduce police brutality and increase accountability in law enforcement. However, the actual truth of the matter is far more suspect…

Major provisions of the bill only apply to federal law enforcement

The vast majority of the provisions of the bill target federal law enforcement—not the cops on the streets in communities across America. So it seems, politicians aren’t exactly telling the whole truth to the public. They’re touting the virtues, but hardly explaining the limited applicability. For example, mandating dash cameras and body cameras are both great ideas. But the vast majority of local law enforcement already does this. Federal law enforcement lacks in this area, in fact, many local agencies have ceased working with federal officers because federal policies have long since prohibited the use of body camneras. In other words, the bill highlights how politicians are now mandating what local police agencies have already been doing for years, and making it seem as though it is some sweeping reform.

Chokeholds are also banned, but again, only at the federal level. Chokeholds are a deadly-force option, so if anyone is using them, it’s likely because they are in a deadly force situation. But it’s worth mentioning that If President Biden wants to remove this response to deadly force from the Secret Service, he certainly can insist. However, just to be clear, this limits options the Secret Service and other federal law enforcement agencies have to respond to deadly force.

The bill also prohibits the use of no-knock warrants—by federal agencies only. Beyond the mistruths and misinformation that politicians keep telling the public, the United States Supreme Court approves of no-knock warrants signed by a judge in certain situations. Once again, the bill compromises the safety of federal officers, and would only do so at the local level if a police chief decides to change policy and counter-align with Supreme Court case law.

The use of deadly force standard has also been changed for federal law enforcement. Despite the precendent established by the Supreme Court in the past 33 years with the 4th Amendment “Reasonableness,” the new standard of this so-called reform bill attempts to delimit deadly force “only when necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury” and “as a last resort.”

There are more problems with the new mandates than can be mentioned in this article alone. But any reasonable person should ask why is the current standard—applied by the highest court in the land—being altered? Have other landmark Supreme Court standards been changed by Congress without substance beyond what appears to be little more than political pandering? Fortunately, this aspect of the bill will very likely be deemed unconstitutional. And of course, aside from constitutionality, there is the fact that deviating from the standard will likely endanger the safety of our brothers and sisters behind a federal badge.

Besides, what does “only when necessary” actually mean? Who gets to judge that? The wording alone—never mind actually trying to apply such a standard to a deadly force situation—is so problematic and unrealistic that federal officers should look to bide their time behind desks just to be safe.

Local law enforcement leaders—be forewarned!

Granted, many of the mandates in the bill reflect “racial profiling” policies which have been implemented for years in local agencies. But that doesn’t mean local law enforcement leaders should simply ignore what’s going on here.

There are several provisions in the bill that would withhold federal grant funding to local agencies if they do not adopt policies. And it should be of no suprise that this includes revisions to the use of force outside of long-established Supreme Court standards. And of course, such funding is substantial, and many agencies depend upon federal funding to hire and train police officers, or purchase equipment that could never be done with the budget woes that most cities are experiencing.

Many other points of the bill could be debated here. But the most important thing is this: where’s the proof that any of this will actually improve law enforcement and public safety—and actually reduce crime?

It is going to take extraordinary police leadership to reject the absurd mandates that this legislation is likely to bring about, should it take effect. And it is going to take exceptional leadership to push back against mandates that draw upon political pandering, instead of long-established case law from even the highest court in America. We can only hope there are leaders who will reject the political nonsense handed down from high in Washington D.C. and follow what has been proven and necessary to fight crime—and prevent officers from criminal and civil punishment for doing their jobs and protecting themselves and the public from criminals and violence.


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: bidencongressGeorge FloydGeorge Floyd Justice in Policing ActH.R. 7120must-readnational police reform billpolice reformscam
Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson is a 20 year veteran law enforcement officer currently working at a large metropolitan agency. His assignments have included narcotics, gangs and training. He joined Law Officer in 2017 as an Associate Editor.

Law Officer Badge Blue

Donate & Help Support Law Officer

Donate now and help support justice, law & order
Your donation is tax-deductible.

Related Posts

Maxine Waters

Maxine Waters tells crowd to ‘stay on the street’ if Chauvin is acquitted

April 18, 2021
1.9k

Chris Cuomo says until ‘White people’s kids start getting killed,’ there will not be police reform

April 17, 2021
2.6k

It’s a lie: ‘Systematic police racism’ and the Derek Chauvin Trial

April 17, 2021
2.9k

Chauvin Trial: Law professor says ‘reasonable doubt exists’

April 17, 2021
2.7k

Chauvin Trial: Judge threatens mistrial

April 16, 2021
16.2k

Chauvin Trial: Judge denies request for acquittal

April 15, 2021
8k
Load More
Book: The Courageous Police Leader

Latest Articles

Oregon newspaper: Police shot a white guy; no need to riot

April 18, 2021
1.4k
Maxine Waters

Maxine Waters tells crowd to ‘stay on the street’ if Chauvin is acquitted

April 18, 2021
1.9k

Video: Homicide suspect fires at motorcycle officer

April 18, 2021
1.8k
Birmingham police officer

You are not in control

April 17, 2021
1.5k
Source: @warchyld_ent/Instagram

NYPD confiscates air gun mounted to rapper’s Hummer

April 17, 2021
1.5k

Chris Cuomo says until ‘White people’s kids start getting killed,’ there will not be police reform

April 17, 2021
2.6k
Load More

Liberty University offers affordable tuition and a 25% discount for law officers and first responders.

Follow your Law Officer Local Network:

  • Illinois
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • New York, NY
  • Tulsa, OK
  • Wauwatosa, WI

More coming soon. Follow the news related justice, law, and order in your local area—and stand up and speak out.


Please donate and help support Law Officer

Must Read

Chris Cuomo says until ‘White people’s kids start getting killed,’ there will not be police reform

April 17, 2021
2.6k
Officer expresses shock

Officer expresses shock after shooting combative suspect with firearm instead of Taser

April 12, 2021
13k
Texas police sergeant

Qualified immunity is an endangered species

April 2, 2021
2.4k
sedition charges

DOJ quietly acknowledges there was no sedition at the US Capitol

March 30, 2021
155.6k
Source: Tito Texidor III, unsplash

Duping the ‘woke’—a new kind of criminality in America

March 26, 2021
4.7k
Load More

Stand up & speak out!

Gab with us—fight censorship!

Most Popular

Nashville officer

Graphic video shows deadly encounter between Nashville officer and Tennessee woman

March 15, 2021
221.5k
New Mexico State Police

New Mexico State Police release horrifying video of officer’s murder

April 11, 2021
59k

Journalist: Derek Chauvin ‘will be acquitted’; alleged drug dealer invokes the Fifth Amendment

April 1, 2021
94.5k

Police union leader speaks unpopular truth: Duante Wright shares blame in his own death

April 14, 2021
20.4k
sedition charges

DOJ quietly acknowledges there was no sedition at the US Capitol

March 30, 2021
155.6k

More from Law Officer

  • Archives (12,812)
  • Chaplain (74)
  • Chauvin Trial (14)
  • Community (128)
  • Cop Humor (15)
  • Crime & Controversy (130)
  • Editorial (460)
  • Gear & Technology (64)
  • Investigations (2,433)
  • Laws & Legal (1,315)
  • Leadership (477)
  • News (6,017)
  • Officer Down (806)
  • On Duty (91)
  • Op-ed (601)
  • Reference (1)
  • Tactics (405)

LA Police Gear

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Law Officer Networks
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • NYC Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Join the Network!

© 2021 LawOfficer.com