Require Independent Investigations of Shootings, Deaths, and Injuries Involving Police Officers

Many local and state police departments investigate their own crimes and accusations against them, contributing to distrust of police and a sense that they are above the law. The video of the killing of Walter Scott by a South Carolina police officer, which contradicts earlier police reports, demonstrates the dangers of relying on police testimony and the potential bias in internal investigations. In 2014, Wisconsin became the first state to require independent investigations of officer-involved deaths, and last month, the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing recommended that independent prosecutors review police shootings. In a country founded on checks and balances, we support national legislation requiring independent investigations of officer-involved deaths and injuries.