Crime

Chauvin Verdict Renews Focus On Federal Police Reform

A police reform bill has made it to the Senate, but some states and localities aren't waiting on federal lawmakers to change their policing standards.

Chauvin Verdict Renews Focus On Federal Police Reform
AP
Article by Alexandra Miller
SMS
April 21, 2021

A historic verdict is turning America's eyes to Washington. Stalled efforts for police reform may now be getting renewed attention in Congress.

The House sent the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to the Senate for the second time in March. It included an end to chokeholds and no-knock warrants, and reformed qualified immunity doctrines giving certain legal protections to police. All of those have been a non-starter for most Republicans in the Senate.

Now, one day after the Derek Chauvin verdict, Republican Sen. Tim Scott says he's working with Democrats from the Congressional Black Caucus to find common ground.

Scott says the debate will come down to four issues: qualified immunity that protects officers from lawsuits, chokeholds, no-knock warrants and transferring military equipment to police departments.

States and localities, on the other hand, aren't waiting for Congress to act. Colorado, for example, just knocked out a bunch of these issues in a single bill. The Denver Police Department made changes itself after protests.

Lawmakers say while the verdict is an important step, it doesn't change the policies that have led to the deaths of so many. Legislation, they say, is necessary to right these wrongs.