Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants to change so-called "thin blue line" culture, where police back one another, even when the actions of one are clearly wrong. On Wednesday, she urged police agencies to adopt policies that require officers to intervene when another uses excessive force.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (File photo)
Prompted by the Minneapolis death of George Floyd, where three officers held Floyd down, one with a knee on his neck, Whitmer made her proposal as part of a larger package of police reforms.
Whitmer, a Democrat, said "duty to intervene" policies will save lives and help to keep people safe if adopted by departments. She encouraged the GOP-controlled Legislature to act on a Senate bill that would require new officers to go through training on implicit bias, de-escalation techniques and mental health screenings, according to governor's office.
The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider the bill, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
...On Wednesday, Whitmer also said she would request the Michigan Commission of Law Enforcement Standards provide guidance to law enforcement agencies on continuing education that will help "officers keep up with the ever changing landscape of new laws and issues facing the community," according to a press release.
On Wednesday, authorities in Minneapolis announced charges against three other officers involved in Floyd's death. Previously, only Derek Chauvin, the officer who kneeled on Floyd's neck, had been charged. His charge was upgraded to second-degree homicide.
