Senator Chappelle-Nadal Introduces Legislation
Governing Police Conduct

JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, introduced legislation today (12-1) designed to protect Missouri citizens from being abused by overzealous law enforcement.  The bill is a response to the Senator’s personal experiences during the protests in Ferguson, where she, as well as many constituents, were tear-gassed multiple times and witnessed several instances of police brutality.

The legislation requires all police to wear body cameras, among many other provisions. 

“Audio and video from cameras do not lie.  Too often the police tell one story, while the people tell another.  Cameras with both audio and video will assist in settling controversial disputes,” said Sen. Chappelle-Nadal.

The wearing of body cameras by police officers has recently become part of a national discussion, but activists warn against limiting reform to just one change.  While having audio and video evidence is important, reformers are studying systematic and institutional discrimination that began immediately after slavery ended.  This history is why this bill is more broadly focused on law enforcement accountability, instead of a singular solution.

The senator continued, “Police brutality is real, and causes emotional harm to citizens already experiencing social, economic and educational challenges.  The lack of sensitivity and lack of cultural competency by some police officers and certain government officials has injured the community I represent beyond immediate repair.”

The bill also includes citizen protections and officer professional standards:

• The bill scales back the current “use of deadly force” laws in Missouri, allowing officers to use deadly force only in instances where a suspect poses a clear danger to the officer or the public.
• If a police officer shoots an unarmed citizen, or a police officer kills an unarmed citizen by any other means, a special prosecutor will automatically be appointed.
• When law enforcement is deployed to a protest situation or a scene of civil unrest, all officers will be required to wear accurate and visible identification with their full names clearly displayed. 
• Law enforcement officers shall not be allowed to “hog-tie” citizens or verbally degrade or make derogatory comments toward any peaceful protestors.
• If the governor declares a state of emergency due to civil unrest, the governor shall immediately reassign and mobilize a sufficient number of state social workers, counselors, and psychologists to the area.
• The deployment of tear gas shall not be allowed unless the governor has declared a state of emergency and a neutral third party agency (such as Amnesty International) is on the scene to certify that the tear gas will be deployed in a humanitarian manner.
• If the governor declares a state of emergency due to civil unrest, the governor shall concurrently contract with a neutral third party agency (such as Amnesty International) to immediately report any abuses of human, civil, and constitutional rights to the Missouri and United States attorney generals.
• All law enforcement agencies in Missouri must be accredited by July 1, 2016.

“This is the 21st century.  Police training and tactics from the 1930s have become outdated.  As society evolves, so too must our protectors,” concluded Sen. Chappelle-Nadal.