Staff Reports
INDIANAPOLIS — After a unanimous vote by the Indiana House of Representatives, legislation co-authored by Reps. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus, and Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, supporting local law enforcement now heads to the Senate.
Lauer said to boost accountability and transparency in policing, the proposed law would require full employment record sharing between police departments to identify bad actors, provide additional flexibility to the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board in order to address significant officer misconduct, and require de-escalation training for new recruits and current officers.
“This bill honors and supports our local law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day serving our communities,” Lauer said. “This legislation was a concerted effort among state lawmakers, law enforcement and local advocates to find ways to provide police departments with the tools and additional funds they need to better serve and keep Hoosier safe.”
Lucas said the legislation also includes a $70 million investment in improved training programs and facility upgrades at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, which hasn’t been updated since the 1970s.
“Law police officers already do a tremendous job protecting Hoosiers, and further increasing transparency and accountability within departments will make them even more efficient,” Lucas said. “This is a strong bill that invests in law enforcement through better training programs and facilities.”
Supporters of House Bill 1006 are the Indiana State Police, Indiana State Police Alliance, Indiana Fraternal Order of Police, Indiana Sheriff’s Association, Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Hoosier State Press Association, Inc., the Indy Chamber of Commerce and the Public Defender Commission.
