Police accountability bill faces pushback as Colorado legislative session winds down
DENVER (KDVR) — Lawmakers have a week left to get things done before this legislative session ends and of course, they’re not winding down quietly. A bill meant to help protect police whistleblowers is seemingly on the ropes after some police pushed back hard.
Police groups sent a letter to sponsors of the bill and other representatives asking them not to take up the bill. For a while, it seemed like leaders listened.
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McKinzie Rees is a former officer with the Edgewater Police Department. FOX31 has shared her story before when she was sexually assaulted by a colleague and terminated from her job after blowing the whistle. Her former colleague was eventually charged with unlawful sexual contact but it took others coming to Rees’ defense. Rees helped write a bill this session to ensure other officers will not have to endure what she did.
“When the bill got past committee, all of us were very optimistic because we felt that was going to be the biggest hurdle. To find that we could come together with them as they so-called promised or stated they would do when it actually comes down to doing it: them not coming to the table and not doing that, my optimism dropped,” said McKinzie Rees, a former officer with the Edgewater Police Department.
Police groups sent a letter to bill sponsors earlier this week asking them not to move forward with the bill for debate on the House floor. Instead, they proposed a working group dedicated to exploring how officers can better move forward after allegations of misconduct arise.
“Having a committee and doing that, I’m not against it but we need to get something passed now. And then we can work for amendments, then we can work for amendments, then we can work on future bills and other things but now is the time,” said Rees. “We were supposed to be on the calendar to be heard today on the floor and we found that they pushed us off the calendar.”
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The bill was removed from the calendar for debate Wednesday after the Colorado Fraternal Order of Police sent another letter Wednesday, telling lawmakers there is not enough time for them to thoughtfully engage in the legislative process.
Some lawmakers said a group of them walked off the floor in protest over that bill and other legislative priorities that have not been called for a vote yet; talking to the speaker to try and get bills called.
“You don’t have to fear this bill. It’s just making it an equitable workplace for everybody involved and not just brass,” Rees said.
FOX31 reached out to House leadership for comment and they did not respond in time to be included on this report. Bill sponsors said they believe the bill should be back on the calendar for debate on Thursday.
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