Gov. Charlie Baker signs landmark Massachusetts policing reform law
By Colin A. Young
As the year and legislative session come to a close, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday, Dec. 31 signed into law legislation creating a police accountability and oversight system under which officers need to be certified every three years and can lose their certification for violating to-be-developed policing standards.
As the country reacted to the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers this summer, policing reform was catapulted to the top of Beacon Hill s priority list and lawmakers set out on what would become a complicated, circuitous and, at times, controversial path to address police violence and some of the disproportionate impacts communities of color experience from law enforcement, and to bolster the state s oversight of police officers.
Police chiefs from across the commonwealth gathered in Framingham this summer to protest the early versions of the police reform bill. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
As the year and legislative session come to a close, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday signed into law legislation creating a police accountability and oversight system under which officers need to be certified every three years and can lose their certification for violating to-be-developed policing standards.
As the country reacted to the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers this summer, policing reform was catapulted to the top of Beacon Hill s priority list and lawmakers set out on what would become a complicated, circuitous and, at times, controversial path to address police violence and some of the disproportionate impacts communities of color experience from law enforcement, and to bolster the state s oversight of police officers.
Baker signs landmark policing reform law
Colin A. Young
State House News Service
BOSTON - As the year and legislative session come to a close, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday signed into law legislation creating a police accountability and oversight system under which officers need to be certified every three years and can lose their certification for violating to-be-developed policing standards.
As the country reacted to the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers this summer, policing reform was catapulted to the top of Beacon Hill s priority list and lawmakers set out on what would become a complicated, circuitous and, at times, controversial path to address police violence and some of the disproportionate impacts communities of color experience from law enforcement, and to bolster the state s oversight of police officers.
Governor signs police overhaul into law
By The Associated PressUpdated December 31, 2020, 1:38 p.m.
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Protesters linked arms following a rally and vigil for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and local fallen people, organized by Black Lives Matter Boston and Violence in Boston in June.Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
Governor Charlie Baker on Thursday signed into law a police accountability bill that creates a civilian-led commission with the power to certify officers, investigate claims of misconduct, and revoke the certification of officers for certain violations.
The law also bans the use of choke holds, bars officers from shooting into a fleeing vehicle unless doing so is necessary to prevent imminent harm, and limits the use of so called no-knock warrants.
As the year and legislative session come to a close, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday signed into law legislation creating a police accountability and oversight system under which officers need to be certified every three years and can lose their certification for violating to-be-developed policing standards.
As the country reacted to the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police officers this summer, policing reform was catapulted to the top of Beacon Hillâs priority list and lawmakers set out on what would become a complicated, circuitous and, at times, controversial path to address police violence and some of the disproportionate impacts communities of color experience from law enforcement, and to bolster the stateâs oversight of police officers.