Waterford Today

With recent legislation she introduced, state Sen. Ruth Johnson (R-Holly) aims to make Michigan the first state with a legal requirement for police officers to intervene if they see another officer using excessive force.

On the MiSenateGOP website, Johnson said she was disturbed by the inaction of other officers, who failed to intervene in Minneapolis to save the life of George Floyd.

Titled "Law Enforcement Officer Duty to Intervene Act," Senate Bill 967 would put in place requirements for every Michigan police department to create a policy outlining the duties of officers to prevent harm to citizens by another officer. 

In addition, if passed, the legislation would introduce consequences for those officers who stood by while another officer was using excessive force.

Departments would be required to adopt policies for interventions and consequences for those officers who do not intervene as of Jan. 1, 2021.

The departments would be required to furnish every officer in the department with a copy of the policy.

“The duty to intervene has been an integral part of our policies at the Sheriff’s Office for a long time and should be a standard for all of our law enforcement partners,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard on MiSenateGOP.

According to the release, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office is not alone in having such a policy. However, many departments in Michigan and across the country do not.

“We must hold those accountable who choose not to speak up or intervene, just as much as those who engage in wrongdoing," Bouchard said, according to MiSenateGOP. "This policy must be a standard for anyone who takes the oath and wears a badge.”

The bill currently sits at the introduction stage in the Michigan Senate. To proceed further, it must first pass through the Senate Judiciary Committe and Public Safety Committee, where it is currently under consideration.