Bill Limiting Police Use Of Force To Be Introduced In Montgomery

ROCKVILLE, MD — Legislation that would limit police use of force will be introduced in Montgomery County Council on Tuesday.

Expedited Bill 27-20 — sponsored by Councilmembers Will Jawando, Craig Rice, Nancy Navarro, and Gabe Albornoz — comes amid nationwide police brutality protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd. The deadly encounter was caught on cellphone video, in which a white Minneapolis cop knelt on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes as he begged for air.

The bill's passage would require the county police chief to adopt a use-of-force policy. According to a staff report, the policy would, at a minimum:

• Prohibit an officer from using deadly force, neck or carotid restraints
  • Except when necessary (imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury)
• Ban an officer from striking or restraining an individual
• Require an officer police to take reasonable action to intervene if a member uses excessive force, violates the use-of-force policy, or commits a crime
• Protect an officer from retaliation or discipline for taking reasonable action to intervene

A public hearing on the bill has not yet been scheduled.

Click here to read the bill.

SEE ALSO:

• Law Enforcement Leaders Speak Out About George Floyd's Death
• Pictures From George Floyd Protest In Bethesda
• Bethesda Businesses Board Up Storefronts In Case Of Looting
• Police Chief 'Saddened And Angered' Over George Floyd's Death