FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
June 29, 2020
Contact: Sam Inglot, sam@progressmichigan.org
Progress Michigan Applauds Whitmer Administration Police Reform Proposals
Calls reform proposals a step in the right direction
LANSING – Today Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced new reforms to the way police will conduct their day to day work, including banning chokeholds and windpipe blockage, limits on no-knock warrants, requiring “duty to intervene” policies, and classifying false, racially-motivated 911 calls as a hate crime.
“For too long Black communities and other communities of color have suffered unfairly due to racism, bias and white supremacy in our police and justice systems, the reforms announced by Governor Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist today are great first step in fixing a badly broken system,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director at Progress Michigan. “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community and all communities should have the resources necessary to make that a reality. We need to continue with reforms like these and we commend the Whitmer administration for taking these bold and necessary steps and call on the legislature to act on them without delay.”
Other reform proposals include providing incentive programs for law enforcement to hire and retain officers to work where they already live, requiring independent investigations in all use of force and shootings that result in the death of a civilian, and requiring retention of disciplinary records that involve violations of law or improper use of force.
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