Cohen Calls on Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on Police Training and Independent Review Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In the wake of recent police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Liberties, today called on the House Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing on H.R. 2302 the Police Training and Independent Review Act. This legislation would help encourage states to use independent prosecutors to investigate and, if need be, prosecute police use of deadly force. It would also provide improved training for police officers. A video of Congressman Cohen’s remarks can be found here.

“In the wake of the two most recent police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota, I call on Chairman Goodlatte to hold a hearing on the Police Training and Independent Review Act in the House Judiciary Committee,” said Congressman Cohen. “Both instances were caught on video and show white police officers killing black men. This has become all too common. Black lives matter. The Police Training and Independent Review Act simply calls on states to set up a system of having an independent review of police shootings so we know they are fair and impartial and people know justice has been remedied.”

Last year, Congressman Cohen along with Congressman Lacy Clay (D-MO)(whose district includes Ferguson, MO) introduced H.R. 2302, the Police Training and Independent Review Act. The bill would withhold full federal Byrne-JAG funding for law enforcement if independent prosecutors are not used for cases in which police use of deadly force results in death or injury. The bill would also withhold full federal Byrne-JAG funding if police are not trained on a variety of issues including mental health. The bill is supported by the NAACP and was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune.

The bill currently has 62 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives including Congressional Black Caucus Chairman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) and House Judiciary Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI).

Last year, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo began requiring the use of an independent prosecutor for police killings. See NY Times: Cuomo to Appoint Special Prosecutor for Killings by Police

H.R. 2302 addresses a key recommendation included in President Obama’s Taskforce on 21st Century Policing’s final report: (See Action Item 2.2.3 in https://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/taskforce/TaskForce_FinalReport.pdf -- on p. 21 of the final report):

“2.2.3 Action Item:

The task force encour­ages policies that mandate the use of external and independent prosecutors in cases of police use of force resulting in death, officer-involved shootings resulting in injury or death, or in-custody deaths.

Strong systems and policies that encourage use of an independent prosecutor for reviewing police uses of force and for prosecution in cases of inappropriate deadly force and in-custody death will demonstrate the transparency to the public that can lead to mutual trust between community and law enforcement.”