Dangerous Bill Proposed by Anti-Law Enforcement Democrats Puts Coloradans at Risk
Written by: Marianne Partisan
Colorado law enforcement officers, including multiple police chiefs, are speaking out against a dangerous bill making its way through the state legislature.
House Bill 24-1372, introduced by anti-police Democrats, seeks to eliminate police officers’ ability to use “prone restraint” – a necessary technique used to subdue individuals by placing them face down on their stomachs while being arrested or detained in handcuffs.
This bill, if passed, would jeopardize the safety of suspects, the public, and arresting officers.
National and state training academies have emphasized the importance of prone restraint as a law enforcement tool to ensure the safety of all parties involved. However, the loosely worded bill specifies that officers would be prohibited from using prone restraint unless the use of deadly physical force is justified.
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In a statement to 9News, Rep. Leslie Herod, an anti-police Democrat and one of the co-sponsors of the bill, clarified their intentions: “We’re not saying you can’t use restraint at all, but we are saying that once you have someone subdued and controlled, that you must lift them back up so that they can breathe.”
Herod and the other co-sponsors claim that they were inspired to introduce the bill due to the number of in-custody deaths involving prone restraint in recent years.
Since the bill’s introduction on March 11, Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez and Pueblo Police Chief Chris Noeller have voiced their strong opposition. Chief Vasquez, in an interview with KRDO, expressed his concerns about the negative impact the bill would have on officer safety and recruitment.
Chief Noeller said, “It does not make us safer. It quite, in fact, makes apprehension under those circumstances less safe. And I think it impacts our recruitment and retention pretty harshly.”
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The proposed bill, driven by anti-law enforcement sentiments, threatens to undermine the safety of both officers and the public. It is crucial for lawmakers to consider the expertise and experience of law enforcement professionals when crafting legislation that impacts public safety.
The voices of those who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities should not be silenced by ill-informed policies that put lives at risk.
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