Republicans and Democrats in a state House committee found something to agree about Thursday, as they gave unanimous approval to a package of bills aimed at increasing police accountability.
There are five measures in all, sponsored by four Democrats and one Republican.
HB16-1265 "requires a law enforcement agency to file a petition to expunge the arrest record of a person who is arrested as a result of mistaken identity and with no charges filed with the district court in the judicial district where the person was arrested."
HB16-1264 " prohibits a peace officer from intentionally using a chokehold against another person. The bill makes a violation a class 1 misdemeanor. The bill makes an exception if the officer believes his or her life is in danger or that he or she or another person is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury."
HB16-1263: "Under current law, there is a prohibition against profiling by a peace officer. The bill adds to the prohibition by updating the definition of profiling and describing additional prohibited activities related to profiling."
HB16-1262: "Each law enforcement agency in the state that interviews a candidate for a peace officer position who has worked at another law enforcement agency or in private security shall require the candidate to execute a waiver. The waiver will allow the candidate's previous law enforcement agency or private security company employers to disclose all files pertaining to the applicant, including internal affairs files, to the interviewing agency and releases the interviewing agency and each law enforcement agency or private security company that employed the candidate from any liability related to the use and disclosure of the files."
HB16-1117: "requires all law enforcement agencies to have audio-visual recording equipment available and policies and procedures in place for preserving custodial interrogations by January 1, 2017. A peace officer must record custodial interrogations occurring in a permanent detention facility," with some exceptions.
