ORLANDO, Fla. — Following massive protests pushing for law enforcement reform last summer, state leaders have said a new database is vital to ensure cops with a long list of complaints don’t pop up working in other departments.
House Bill 277 is one of 16 bills announced by the Legislative Black Caucus this month focused on police reform. It would create a database to help agencies track use-of-force complaints against Florida officers.
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“This database would allow intervention, whether that’s in the form of counseling, additional training, suspension, or whatever, before you get to a point where you harm or you kill someone,” Rep. Geraldine Thompson said.
Police Benevolent Association leaders worry about including all use-of-force complaints, not just the ones that are sustained.
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But Thompson said even that can be valuable information. And she noted other professions have similar databases.
Beyond earlier intervention for their own officers, Thompson said some sheriffs and chiefs want this to help them weed out officers with personnel files full of complaints who simply resign when they’re facing trouble and then apply at other agencies.
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Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon said in a statement that the department is “committed to working with legislators to implement reforms that hold the law enforcement profession accountable and build trust”.
He also said they extensively vet officers’ work history.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina said the same, saying this database wouldn’t help them.
The office said they already have an early intervention program to track potential issues and provide additional training.
