City of Houston 2023Legislative Report

Public Safety

Bill Sponsors / Authors:

Justin Holland   Rep. Justin Holland
  R - Rockwall

Kelly Hancock   Sen. Kelly Hancock
  R - North Richland Hills

 

Supporting Documents / Links:

Public Safety GraphicSenate Bill 2209 - Police Oversight

Local civilian oversight is vital to allow community members into the review/input process for oversight of local law enforcement. Particularly in cities with diverse populations, it is crucial to building trust and respect to allow citizens to take part in a checks-and-balance system for public safety.

Executive Order 1-5, signed by Mayor Turner, sets forth the structural changes to the creation of the Independent Police Oversight Board (IPOB) to combat the community perception that Internal Affairs Division (IAD) has over law enforcement investigations.

Senate Bill 2209 would amend Section 143.003 of the Local Government Code to prohibit "Civilian Oversight Commissions" from investigating classified employees.

As Deputy Inspector General Crystal Okorafor testified:

“The men and women of Houston’s IAD are among the most professional in the nation. However, the Committee can understand where members of the community, in the wake of high profile police misconduct cases, might have concerns over the sole-authority-IAD’s potential to abuse that with which they have been charged to protect or control.

Such sole-authority creates mistrust, in a nation that prides itself on its checks-and-balances system of government.”

The bill would have restricted law enforcement officers to police themselves against any failures or internal oversight that may occur by removing the authority of local government to determine and hold local law enforcement officers accountable outside the IAD.

  • Additionally, the bill would make the state, not the city, decide membership eligibility for IPOB, where past offenders who have paid their debts to society can use their real-life experience to highlight matters of important to the check/balance process.
  • The bill would also make or keep misconduct documentation confidential, except for law enforcement.

Local civilian oversight is vital to each individual city and their culture by allowing community members into the reviewing process and given the authority to making recommendations.

It would bring difficultly for many cities, such as Houston’s diverse population, to building trust and respect among law enforcement if local involvement removed by allowing citizens to take part in a holistic checks and balance system for their public safety.