OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Senate has approved a measure requiring police to intervene if they see a fellow officer using excessive force.
The bill sponsored by Redmond Democrat Manka Dhingra passed 28-21 Tuesday over opposition from Republicans.
Under the bill, officers would have to intervene to stop excessive force if they see it being used by another officer and they’re in a position to do so.
Republicans had concerns about the language of the law being too broad and introduced amendments that would have further defined certain portions of the bill, including setting a “clear objective standard” to define excessive force.
The bill would also require police to report wrongdoing by another officer to that officer’s supervisor, and it would forbid retaliation against police who intervene or report wrongdoing.