'Chokeholds Are Too Dangerous': Local Leaders Call For Police Reform, Introduce Legislation To Ban Chokeholds
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Law enforcement is joining lawmakers in the crafting of police reform legislation in Pennsylvania. The conversation surrounding police reform is ever-present. Now members of the Senate and law enforcement leaders are joining the conversation.
On Thursday morning, state and federal officials gathered at City Hall to unveil bipartisan legislation in the Senate.
"I do want to thank the officers that put their lives on the line every day to do the right thing," State Sen. Sharif Street, of Philadelphia, said.
Legislators want to lend their support to those officers by supporting new laws meant to improve policing.
The new chokehold mandate, spearheaded by Street, would outlaw the standard chokehold or any action that obstructs breathing or the flow of blood to the brain.
"Those of us who are conscious cops who have worked in this institution, this is a long time coming," Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal said.
There's also a discussion of additional measures to track officers for disciplinary and hiring purposes.
"Develop a mandatory statewide database of police misconduct the department would be required to use when hiring a police officer," Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.
The House will vote on the Justice and Policing Act next week. It's aimed at changing the criminal justice system officials say is infused with racism.
"For too long we have all been too silent when it comes to this issue. For many of us, perhaps a failure to recognize the depths of the problem and what appeared at first to be an isolated incident, after more and more videos, shows that it's more than just isolated incidents," Congressman Brendan Boyle said.
In Harrisburg, two days of hearings on criminal justice reform continued with prosecutors, activists, police and others to discuss improved police training, updating use of force policies and the danger of defunding police.
Meanwhile, Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby sent a message to fellow officers.
"You have a lot of support in the community. You're doing a hell of a job out there, keep it up," McNesby said.
For the Senate, they say the goal from the hearings is to pass meaningful, responsible legislation hopefully later this summer.
