Colorado Legislature gives first approval to police oversight bills

Photo: CPR/Hart Van Denburg

Supporters see the bills as a way for police to rebuild trust damaged by a series of police actions around the country. The three measures would require greater transparency in cases of officer-involved shootings and when officers attempt to hide past disciplinary actions when applying for new jobs.

Greenwood Village Police Chief John Jackson, who heads the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, supports those measures.

“Our communities have to trust their law enforcement officials. And we have to show that we can be trusted. It's a two-way street,” Jackson said. 

But other reform measures still to be debated have less support from law enforcement. They include prohibiting police from using choke holds and guaranteeing citizens the right to record any incident involving police.