Police internal files could become public under bill approved by Colorado House committee
"In 2017, the department received 197 external or citizen complaints and 103 internal or directed complaints, Black said."
"Many internal investigations are deemed unfounded, said Rep. Shane Sandridge, R-Colorado Springs, a former police officer and member of the House committee."
“It’s always easier to blame the police officer,” Sandridge said. “He planted it. He hit me… He broke my arm. He beat me.”
"But the committee's Vice Chair, Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, said civilians have been hurt and beaten and biased policing has taken place. The fact that people sometimes lie does not negate the need for transparency, Herod said."
"Don Sisson, an attorney for the Colorado Fraternal Order of Police, said an officer's right to privacy sometimes outweighs the public's right to transparency."
“This bill is really about eliminating the balancing test: Get rid of one side of the scale, the officer privacy side of the scale,” Sisson said."
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