NEWS

Police confidentiality bill moves ahead in House

Ronald J. Hansen
The Republic | azcentral.com
  • The House gave preliminary approval to a bill keeping secret names of police officers in shootings.
  • The House version would keep officers' name secret for up to 60 days.

Police officers may have moved a step closer to gaining temporary confidentiality after serious or deadly shooting incidents with preliminary approval of a bill Tuesday that would allow secrecy for up to 60 days.

Senate Bill 1445 advanced in the House of Representatives toward a final vote despite concerns that confidentiality hurts the public more than it protects the police. The House version, however, would reduce the secrecy period from the 90 days approved in the Senate.

The bill, chiefly sponsored by Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, passed the Senate on a 23-6 vote.

The secrecy provision comes as police nationwide have come under heightened scrutiny after deadly force incidents in Ferguson, Mo., Staten Island, N.Y, and Cleveland. Those incidents involved the deaths of Black males at the hands of White police officers, adding a racial element to the debate over deadly force.

In December, Phoenix added a case of its own to the debate: Officer Mark Rine shot Rumain Brisbon, who police say fled and resisted arrest when Rine looked into a complaint of drug dealing outside a convenience store. Police released Rine's name a week after the shooting and as protesters called for an independent investigation of the incident.

Organizations like the Fraternal Order of Police have urged passage of the bill, citing worries for officer safety.

The American Civil Liberties Union's Arizona chapter plans to speak against the bill Wednesday at the Capitol, saying in a news release that the legislation "will send a harmful message to cities and states across the country that it's appropriate to keep officers' identities secret. That's why community leaders are banding together to stop this bill from becoming law."

Lobbyist Chris Moeser, who represents Phoenix Newspapers Inc., the parent to The Arizona Republic, has spoken against the bill.

Lottery winners may soon gain similar secrecy protections. SB 1047, chiefly sponsored by Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, would allow the names of lottery winners to be confidential for 90 days unless the winner chooses to waive the secrecy. That bill also gained preliminary approval in the House and has already passed the Senate.