It is called the “bad behavior” bill and it aims to make sure law enforcement officers don’t use a resignation to hide bad behavior.
It passed in the Michigan Senate today.
“As a former sheriff, I know how important it is for the community to have trust in their local law enforcement officers,” said Jones, R-Grand Ledge. “While the overwhelming majority of our police officers and sheriff deputies are outstanding public servants, it only takes one bad apple to spoil the public’s trust. Building trust in the community starts with ensuring that bad behavior is not tolerated, and that is the purpose of this bill.”
It is Senate Bill 223.
It calls for law enforcement agencies to keep records on the circumstances surrounding a separation of service from a police department. Other law enforcement agencies would then be able to ask for a copy of those records.
Jones said he decided the state needed this bill after he saw a video of a Eaton County Sheriff’s Deputy, that he says should have ended that deputy’s career.
You can see the video below.
“You can see how he loses his temper, grabs the man by the neck, makes a violent arrest. It is alleged he then makes a false police report,” said Jones. “… so a few weeks later he was working for another department and according to media reports is now being sued at that department for two alleged assaults.”
The bill still needs approval in the House and from the governor to become law.
