A bill to amend and reform the state’s Law Officer’s Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) sailed through the House with a 58-14 vote last Thursday, to the praise of some and the skepticism of others.

The bill would reform the disciplinary panel for police officers, expanding it from three to five and filling the two new seats with an attorney and a Rhode Island Supreme Court-appointed retired judge. It also allows police chiefs to comment on proceedings and release video evidence of misconduct, and extends suspension length.

Bradford Connor, Warwick Police Chief and President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association praised the bill in a statement, saying that the department will “welcome increased transparency because it will help us gain trust with the communities we serve.”

Deputy Speaker Raymond Hull, who is the commanding officer of the Housing Unit in the Providence Police Department spoke highly of the bill, stating “I believe this bill can restore that trust between the officers who selflessly protect all of us and the people they serve.”

Others, however, have criticized the bill for not meeting the moment in light of notable police misconduct incidents. Rep. José Batista, who failed to pass his amendment which would have allowed police chiefs to immediately discipline or fire officers involved in serious misconduct, told the Beacon that the bill in its current form would fail to prevent “another George Floyd from happening here,” and criticized confusion stemming from the case of Officer Daniel Dolan regarding legal convictions compared to internal police discipline.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island (ACLU) also criticized the bill, pointing to a provision within the bill prohibiting police chiefs from releasing video footage of “minor” incidents without clarification on what constitutes a minor incident.

The bill will head for Gov. Dan McKee’s desk should it pass the Senate.