On Thursday, July 18, a preliminary meeting regarding Colorado House Bill 24-1460, otherwise known as the “Whistleblower Protections for Law Enforcement,” took place in the State Capitol. The bill entails that if a law enforcement agency receives reports of an officer showing misconduct, criminal conduct, or other unprofessional conduct toward a peace officer, an investigation shall be opened and taken very seriously.
Representatives Leslie Herod, Jennifer Bacon, and Jessie Danielson are the prime sponsors of HB24-1460 which is subject to crimes, corrections, and enforcement. The presentation of the bill grants a peace officer whistleblower protection under current law and also grants a peace officer a private right of action against their hiring agency.
In Section 2, 24-31-113, “Public integrity,'” the bill states:
“It is unlawful for any governmental authority, or any agent thereof, or any person acting on behalf of a governmental authority, to engage in a pattern or practice of conduct by peace officers or by officials or employees of any governmental agency that deprives persons, INCLUDING OTHER PEACE OFFICERS, of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the constitution or laws of the United States or the state of Colorado. Whenever the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of this section has occurred, the attorney general, for or in the name of the state of Colorado, may in a civil action obtain any and all appropriate relief to eliminate the pattern or practice.”
Numerous reports and accusations of internal law enforcement wrongdoing have surfaced around the state since SB20-217 was passed entailing police reform for encounters with the public. Coloradans have made it very clear that misconduct by police, both towards civilians and peace officers, is a threat to public safety. Legislators in the state should give it their full and urgent attention.
People against the SB20-217 bill, who came mostly from the law enforcement lobby, resisted the measure on claims that they had “insufficient time” to discuss its provisions and bring it into reform. Although proponents of the bill, along with affected whistleblowers, have expressed that the reaction was an effort to avoid having a meaningful conversation about agency guilt and police accountability.
Former Edgewater police officer McKinzie Rees bravely filed both criminal and civil lawsuits against an officer who assaulted her in 2019. She also filed a lawsuit against others in the law enforcement agency who attempted to assist in a cover-up of the crimes. Since the report, Rees has been suing the department for experiencing retaliation and then being discharged from the Edgewater Police Department for speaking up.
The Hon. Judge Christopher Rhamey made the following ruling against Rees’ offender, who will now be registered as a sex offender for the next four years:
“What we have here is an aggravated case with inappropriate conduct. We have somebody who is in a position of power and used that power to prey on innocent people in our community and also conspire. Whether you blame others or not, these actions, conspiring with other members of law enforcement, the way the Court sees it, it was like a good old boys club … You are the reason why we have investigations into law enforcement, the FBI having to become involved with certain agencies,” Judge Rhamey says. “It’s you. It’s the right thing that you lose your POST certification; it’s the right thing that you’re not in law enforcement”
Many Representatives, including the HB 24-1460 sponsors, have spoken up about the situation,
“The experiences and insights shared by stakeholders like McKinzie Rees are invaluable in our efforts to build a more just and accountable system,” says Herrod. “We are committed to upholding the integrity of this legislative process and ensuring that all voices are heard.”
