McClinton applauds governor for signing police reforms into law, vows fight to bring justice to all is far from over
Rep. Joanna E. McClinton July 14, 2020 | 4:53 PM
State Rep. Joanna McClinton is applauding Gov. Tom Wolf today for signing two critical police reform bills into law aimed at ensuring accountability and transparency in law enforcement across the Commonwealth.
"This is truly an historic step in our fight to end systematic racism in Pennsylvania by enacting real change that Black and Brown individuals need now more than ever," said McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware. "The fact these bills swiftly moved through the legislature, passing both the House and Senate unanimously and making it to the governor in just a matter of weeks, proves we can get the people's work done when we work together."
McClinton joined the governor outside the office of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency as he signed:
- H.B. 1841 – Requires thorough background checks prior to the hiring of a police officer, as well as requires the establishment and upkeep of a confidential database, which will contain information about past criminal convictions/employment separations of police officers. Hiring departments would be expected to query this database prior to hiring a certified officer.
- H.B. 1910 – Requires that police officers be trained on racial, ethnic and economic diversity; implicit bias; recognizing and reporting child abuse; and annual training on the appropriate use of force. The bill also increases access to officers’ mental health evaluations.
"None of this progress would have been possible without leadership, compromise and the boots on the ground of the dedicated advocates who have marched peacefully demanding justice for all," McClinton explained. "Our voices are being heard in Harrisburg, and I will continue fighting to make sure we are never silenced."
McClinton went on to say, "While these new laws are a major step in the right direction, this is certainly not the end but just the beginning. As a member of the Police Reform Working Group, I am pushing to pass a plethora of critical proposals that we've created to help protect our communities of color from targeted violence, eliminate bad actors from law enforcement and strengthen trust between our neighborhoods and the dedicated officers who fight to keep us safe."
A full list of their police reforms proposals can be found on McClinton's website.