The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a bill including a provision that would inhibit the public’s ability to hold police officers accountable. Please send a letter today urging the Rhode Island Senate to fix the LEOBOR bill (H-7263 Sub A) before it passes!

Watch Common Cause Rhode Island's executive director, John Marion, discuss the loophole on a recent edition of WPRI's "Newsmakers" and why the RI State Senate should amend the LEOBOR reform bill:

The Issue

Transparency is key to accountability in government. That’s why, just a few years ago, Rhode Island adopted a policy requiring every police department in the state to deploy body-worn cameras. But now, just a few years after they were first required, the General Assembly is about to undermine this important police accountability reform.

As passed by the House of Representatives, the bill to reform the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) would prohibit police chiefs or their designees from releasing body-worn camera videos when they show “minor” violations of departmental rules and regulations.

How can we know something is “minor” unless we see the video? That’s why we must amend the LEOBOR bill in the Rhode Island Senate.

It has taken four years for the General Assembly to reach a compromise on LEOBOR reform, but it’s important to get it right. The Rhode Island Senate can fix this loophole before the bill is sent to the governor’s desk.

Take Action!

Please take action today to ensure that body-worn camera videos remain available to the public. Contact your state senator and urge them to amend the LEOBOR bill ASAP!

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