Proposed Bill to Increase Law Enforcement Accountability, Ease Community Tension with Transparency
On February 18, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced the Special Inspector General for Law Enforcement Act (H.R.6762) into the House of Representatives. Upon passage, the legislation would provide more protections for whistleblowers and create the position of Special Inspector General responsible for investigating potential cases of abuse or misconduct.
The legislation follows two letters from the Government Accountability Project to Congress in 2021, signed by 170 advocacy organizations, and 30 law enforcement officers. As an organization that advocates for whistleblowers, the Government Accountability Project applauded the proposed legislation, commenting that powerful individuals and institutions should be held accountable.
“For too long, American law enforcement has operated under a culture of relative impunity. That has got to change. We need accountability, not impunity. It’s time for law enforcement to answer to the communities they serve,” stated Rep. Connolly, “The bill would authorize the [Special Inspector General] to investigate retaliation against whistleblowers and provides the opportunity for civil and criminal prosecution in cases of retaliation.”
The proposed legislation would require the Special Inspector General to conduct independent investigations into use of deadly force cases referred by state and local law enforcement agencies. According to Rep. Connolly, often frustrated communities believe that justice is denied in such cases, but this independent investigation mechanism will provide transparency and accountability to them.
Furthermore, the bill provides substantial protections to citizens, law enforcement officers, federal, state, and local government workers and contractors who make protected disclosures to the Special Inspector General.
“Police cannot play their role in helping to create public safety without the trust of the community. The proposed Special Inspector General for Law Enforcement will fill this critical gap. The Special Inspector General will be free from local influences and political pressure. It represents a critical reform to ensure uniform respect for the civil rights of all people,” stated Jonathan Smith, the Executive Director of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, in endorsement.
The Lamplighter Project, which encourages whistleblowing in law enforcement, also praised the legislation. Austin Handle, Vice-Chair of the Board, explained the new law has a chance to create a safe environment where officers can thrive without fear of retribution in an effort to circumvent and defeat generational police misconduct.
“This bill will thrust open a safe passage for the ‘good cop’ to hold their peers accountable when reporting misconduct. In doing so, it may very well usher in a new era of policing that can turn the tide against our past mistakes,” Handle concluded.