MORE CHANGES TO POST
In addition to decertification for excessive force, POST must create and maintain a database for tracking information related to officer’s 1) untruthfulness 2) compliance with training requirements, 3) decertification, and 4) all officers that are terminated for cause.
This is a major change in that now POST will track all officers that are terminated for cause (and what kind of cause). It is yet unknown what kind of requirements this will place on agencies to report terminations, and whether there is a level of proof or standards for when someone is terminated and reported to POST as a termination.
POST will now be able to revoke the certification of any officer that fails to satisfactorily complete peace officer training required by the POST board.
ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ENFORCE INTEGRETY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
This provision gives the Attorney General the authority to take civil action against agencies that have a pattern or practice of their employees that deprive citizens of rights, privileges, or immunities. This appears to be similar to the US Department of Justice’s role in “consent decrees” that have been developed with other municipal law enforcement agencies during the past few decades. While it is unclear how this system would work in under the Colorado Attorney General, it would likely entail agencies viewed as “frequent flyers” to submit to the control and oversight of the Attorney General’s office.
RACIAL PROFILING CHANGES
This provision expressly requires a peace officer have an “objective justification” to make a stop of a citizen. After making the stop, the officer must report to the agency:
1) Date, time and location
2) Perceived demographic information
3) Any use of force
4) Any discovery of a firearm on the person stopped
The officer must then provide a business card to the person stopped.
