Rally set Tuesday to protest bill over releasing officers' names

The opponents of a proposed bill that would keep secret the names of police officers involved in deadly use-of-force incidents are planning to rally Tuesday outside Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's office.

In it's current form, Senate Bill 1445 would amend Arizona public records law to prohibit police departments from releasing the names of officers involved in shootings, or incidents where a suspect is seriously injured for 60 days.

The proposed legislation would also require departments to redact identifying information in reports containing information of disciplinary action taken against officers involved.

Names could be released prior to the end of 60 days if: the officer is arrested, indicted or charged in connection with the incident; Arizona rules of criminal procedure require it to be released; a criminal investigation is completed; or the officer consents in writing.

Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, sponsored SB 1445. Neither Smith, nor a half-dozen co-sponsoring senators and representatives, responded to a request for comment.

Mike Williams, a lobbyist for the Arizona Police Association and Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, which support the legislation, said Monday that the public should not "hang (peace officers) out to dry by putting their spouse and family in danger."

"Because some of these issues get emotionally charged, we're asking for a cooling-off period," Williams said. "That doesn't mean the (the public) is not entitled to know."

The rally, organized by the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, is slated for 4 p.m. in front of the Arizona Executive Tower located on 18th Avenue between Adams and Jefferson streets.

Speakers from organizations such as the Maricopa County branch of the NAACP, the Greater Phoenix Urban League and Puente Human Rights Movement, will encourage Ducey to veto the bill. A representative from Ducey's office did not respond to a request for comment about the proposed legislation.

SB 1445 goes against best practices for law enforcement, said Alessandra Soler, executive director of the ACLU of Arizona. The bill, which is opposed by the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, is flawed because it would take discretion away from police chiefs, who now decide whether to release names within 48 hours or withhold it due to a safety issue, she said.

Releasing the names of officers involved in shootings increases public trust because it leaves fewer questions about abuse of power or a cover-up, Soler said. Keeping names secret would hurt oversight, she said, which is counter to a strong democracy.

"Police officers have an extraordinary power because they can detain, search, arrest and have the ability to shoot to kill," Soler said. "That is when the transparency and accountability needs to be the strongest."

While SB 1445's intent to protect police officers is good, the bill itself is "terrible" and will ultimately harm those on both sides of the issue, according to Jeremy Helfgot, commissioner for the city of Phoenix Commission on Human Relations.

Keeping the names of officers secret would lead to an uninformed public that could make irrational decisions based on fear, Helfgot said. If an officer's name is not released, people will still speculate about who was involved. That could lead to finger pointing, which could endanger more than one officer, he said.

"We need to be building trust and confidence between a community and police who protect it," Helfgot said. "This is the Arizona Legislature inserting itself into that process and widening the gap, rather than making an effort of closing it."