Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed two legislation that criminalize certain conduct against police officers and greatly limit civilian supervision of law enforcement. This decision has sparked passionate discussion and caused civil rights organizations to express worry.
Senate Bill 184 is one of the laws that aims to punish people severely if they get in the way of law enforcement or emergency personnel while they are on the job. Following a verbal warning to remain at least 25 feet away from an officer or first responder is now considered a second-degree misdemeanor under this law. A breach of the law also occurs when these public officials are the targets of threats or harassment.
Opponents of the measure have voiced their worries over the vagueness of the word “harassment,” expressing worry that it might be used to silence those who record police brutality, as was the case in the sad recording of George Floyd’s interaction with the police. There have been efforts to clarify “harassment” in the bill, but concerns remain over its possible abuse to censor those who want to make police departments answer for their actions.
On the other hand, Governor DeSantis vehemently supported the bill, stressing the need of holding offenders responsible for acts that obstruct police operations and upset officers.
Second, HB 601 would make it illegal for civilian police review boards to investigate allegations of officer wrongdoing on their own. This would be a devastating blow to these boards. Members of these boards must now be nominated by local law enforcement agencies, which might undermine their efficacy and impartiality.
Those in favor of HB 601 say it will keep these review boards from becoming into venues for attacks on police personnel and will instead let them talk about bigger concerns like departmental policy, training, and systemic problems.
The laws’ approval has caused a schism in the political parties, with Republicans strongly supporting them and Democrats firmly opposed. These proposals have bipartisan support in the Senate, but their controversial character shows how deeply divided Florida is on police reform.
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The future of policing and civil rights in Florida will be shaped by the ongoing discussion over how to combine police accountability with the safety of law enforcement personnel, as the state pushes ahead with these new legislation.