Police reform talk returns to Michigan Legislature after Tyre Nichols’ killing

Michigan’s Legislative Black Caucus mentioned yesterday that it desires to see lawmakers cross police reform payments following the dying of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man​ who died days after Memphis police severely beat him.

Driving the information: Quite a few bipartisan proposals have been launched final session following the dying of Patrick Lyoya in Grand Rapids, however by no means made it to a vote.

• “Change should be made, not lip service,” mentioned Rep. Amos O’Neal (D-Saginaw), who requested the room to provide a second of silence for Nichols’ household.

Particulars: A 12-bill bundle launched final yr contains banning no-knock warrants, chokeholds, establishing new procedures for investigating misconduct incidents and permitting an officer’s license to be revoked whether it is decided they used extreme pressure.

Zoom in: In a statement yesterday, Metropolis Council president Mary Sheffield mentioned she desires to cross a regulation in Detroit requiring officers to intervene when a fellow officer is utilizing extreme pressure.

What they’re saying: “That might’ve been me, that might’ve been my youthful brother, that might’ve been my 1-year-old son,” mentioned 30-year-old Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit).

• McKinney mentioned he fears for his security whereas driving as much as Lansing from Detroit. “This badge on my hip does not matter, the title you maintain, the schooling you obtained … We’re telling our Black girls and boys ‘Do not put on your hoodie, be presentable’ … However that is not sufficient …”

What’s subsequent: Lawmakers have to reintroduce the bundle to ship payments by means of the Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Security Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit).

• Chang tells Axios that lawmakers “are going to try the payments and see what revisions must be made and get along with the assorted state and nationwide teams we have been working with.”
• Chang says they plan to circle round with regulation enforcement teams and prosecutors as they did final time period.