TNDP On Pro-Intimidation Legislation

By Kleinheider Posted on February 8, 2010 at 4:12 pm

From the party blog:

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester wants state Rep. Chad Faulkner of Luttrell to focus his energy on helping families in Campbell and Union counties instead of sponsoring legislation that could alienate law enforcement from the rest of the community.

Faulkner’s bill, HB 2659, would require a copy of any complaint against a law-enforcement officer to be shown to the person accused in the complaint prior to any investigation. Such a measure would likely discourage some people from reporting inappropriate police behavior, Forrester pointed out.

“Mr. Faulkner should be more concerned about bringing more jobs to his district than about intimidating someone who reports the bad behavior of a police officer,” Forrester said. “Our police officers do a tremendous, and often thankless, job keeping us safe, and we should be grateful.

“But most frivolous and unsubstantiated complaints are weeded out with procedures already in place. Mr. Faulkner has a history of questionable behavior, and this is nothing more than a pathetic attempt to make it harder for the public to report abusive or inappropriate behavior of a law-enforcement officer.”

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