Padilla Joins Duckworth in Renewed Push to Prevent Police-Involved Deaths

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) in reintroducing the Police Training and Independent Review Act,legislation that would help prevent police-involved deaths and encourage independent, impartial investigations into law enforcement officials' use of deadly force.

"Communities across California cannot feel safe if they cannot trust that law enforcement officers will be held accountable when they use deadly force," said Senator Padilla. "Police-involved deaths are avoidable, and we can help prevent these tragedies with improved training, impartial investigations, and increased oversight. This bill will help restore accountability into policing and provide justice for the communities and families who have been impacted by the use of deadly force."

"From Chicago to Louisville or anywhere in America, we cannot allow ourselves to accept that Black teenagers, men and women are still being unjustly executed at the hands of law enforcement without judge or jury," said Senator Duckworth. The death of Laquan McDonald-an Illinoisan teen who was shot and killed 12 years ago at the hands of a Chicago Police Department officer with a recorded history of excessive force-"was preventable, and Congress still has yet to do enough to ensure tragedies like his never happen again. In honor of Laquan's 29^th heavenly birthday, I'm proud to lead Senate Democrats in reintroducing this overdue legislation that would help save lives and restore trust between law enforcement and local communities by increasing resources for training to help prevent such incidents, while promoting objective and independent investigations of police-involved uses of deadly force. Families like Laquan McDonald's that have experienced heartbreak are no less deserving of justice than any other family. It's time our country acts to ensure accountability within our law enforcement agencies and provide justice to those who have lost loved ones."

Police in the United States kill more than 1,000 people each year, with some reports estimating around 195 deaths per year in California alone. Yet, fewer than 3% of those killings result in an officer being charged with a crime. Throughout most of the country, the officer's own department investigates a police killing while a local prosecutor decides whether to bring charges, an inherent conflict of interest this legislation is designed to eliminate.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Create financial incentives for states to require training for law enforcement officials on fair and impartial policing and best practices for working with members of the community who are disabled and have mental illnesses. Eligible institutions include:
  • The use of an independent agency, civilian review board or outside law enforcement department, such as the State Police, responsible for independently investigating and prosecuting all officer use of force allegations.
  • The appointment of the State Attorney General, or a special prosecutor overseen by the State Attorney General, responsible for conducting the criminal investigation and prosecution.
  • The use of an independent prosecutor, who does not reside or work in the same county as the county where the officer's use of force was committed.
• Encourage communities to use independent prosecutors to investigate law enforcement officials' use of deadly force.
• Authorize the U.S. Attorney General to award grants to states that require an independent investigation and, if warranted, prosecution in cases where one or more of the alleged offenses result in death or serious bodily harm.

In addition to Padilla, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Full text of the bill is available here.

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