Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – The kind of chokehold that led to the death of George Floyd in police custody could soon be completely outlawed in the District. D.C. police are only allowed to use chokeholds in limited circumstances. The Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 that the D.C. Council will vote on Tuesday would ban them in all cases as well as make other changes to police practices.
The bill – proposed by Councilmember Charles Allen – will be voted on after more than a week of massive protests against police brutality and systemic racism in D.C. following Floyd’s killing in May. The viral video of then Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin holding his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes sparked outrage and protests across the nation with demonstrators calling for police reform, including a ban on chokeholds. The Minneapolis City Council voted to ban chokeholds in the wake of Floyd’s death.
“The protests to the murders of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and cruelly countless others are evidence of the immediate need to take action,” Allen said in a statement.
Allen’s proposed bill also includes provisions to increase access to body worn camera footage, expand the use of force review board, and require the District’s police officers to take continuing education courses on topics including racism and de-escalation tactics. For more details about the bill, click here.
“I support the legislation, and I expect it will be passed,” Council Chair Phil Mendelson said at a press conference Monday.
Mendelson said he will propose additional amendments including prohibiting the Metropolitan Police Department from hiring officers who have a history of misconduct in other jurisdictions.
Salim Adofo, ANC Commissioner for Ward 8 and organizer of the Next Steps rally held by the National Black United Front Sunday, supports the bill and says it is a step in the right direction.
“You gotta look at the broader society and see some of the issues that are going on in the world in which we live in and how those attitudes shape and mold people who then will eventually become police officers,” Adofo told WMAL.
D.C. Police Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton told the Larry O’Connor Show he is against the bill.
“He [Allen] just has a myriad of things that he wants to do to try to completely erode the rights the police officers have in this District,” Pemberton said.
A statement from the union adds that the bill “creates a dangerous path to unchecked violence in the District.”
The union has two main issues with the bill. It said in the statement the bill “is being rushed in an effort to capitalize on the momentum of public sentiment.” Union officials also feel if the bill passes, crime will increase and officers will leave.
The union said it understands people want reformed police policies.
“The Union is, and always has been willing to have serious discussions about this kind of reform,” the statement said.
Mendelson said since the bill is emergency legislation, it would only be in effect for 90 days if the council passes it. After that the council would work on permanent legislation.
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