Updated at 1:02 p.m.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday his administration has filed a bill geared toward "increasing transparency and accountability in law enforcement" and training police officers in Massachusetts.
Baker said in a press briefing that the legislation creates a certification program for law enforcement officers that must be renewed every three years and creates a database of certified police officers, which will be available to the public.
"The big gap [in the state] is we lack a certification program to instill day-to-day accountability and transparency in the system we have. This bill will create a more modern, more transparent, and more accountable system for law enforcement training," Baker said.
It also creates a process for de-certifying a police officer. An officer who uses a chokehold or another form of excessive force will be "automatically de-certified," Baker said, as will an officer who does not intervene if they see a fellow officer using excessive force.
The legislation also "creates incentives for advanced law enforcement training and education focusing on deescalation, community building, collaboration, human rights and bias," he said.
Baker said the legislation is the result of a year's worth of discussions with the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, and with state public safety officials. Baker said the bill was accelerated by the outrage over the police killing of George Floyd and the country-wide protests against police brutality following his death.
"The murder of George Floyd was a tragedy. It was wrong. It was an act of racism," said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who also spoke at the briefing. "We cannot and will not tolerate these injustices in our commonwealth."
Polito specified that police officers will have access to "additional tools" such as deescalation training and instruction on techniques for responding to sexual assault and domestic violence cases. She emphasized that officers who are "bad actors that tarnish the reputation of our dedicated and honorable police officers" will be de-certified.
Rep. Carlos González of the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, also speaking to the press, called the bill a start "in the right direction" and "the beginning of some candid and uncomfortable conversation."
He said the Caucus has outlined a 10-point plan, and this bill is the first step.
The legislation, González added, is not only a response to the killing of George Floyd, but also to the deaths of "Eric Garner, Rodney King, and the cries from the slaves in the slave ships, and the cries of our brothers and sisters of the Native American community, before this country started."
"I am sick and tired of hearing constituents say, 'We asked for a badge number. And I didn't get it.' Those days are over," said Rep. Russell Holmes during the press conference, who added that civilians' ability to look up officers' certification in the public database will enable them to better hold the police accountable for misconduct.
Holmes also noted the importance of including police unions in conversations surrounding increased police accountability.
"I envision a day where I get pulled over — because that will happen — and I will sit in that car like so many folks do, and we wait around for 15 minutes for them to come give us our ticket, they're reviewing our background, our driving records — but I will view theirs, too," Holmes said. "I will make sure I understand that person, as well. That is the standard we're looking for."
