BREAKING: Gov. Polis Signs SB 217, Law Enforcement Integrity Act

Just this morning, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed SB 217, or the Law Enforcement Integrity Act, into law. The law will now prohibit excessive and deadly force, require officers to wear body cams, and authorizes the Attorney General to bring lawsuits against police departments.

Polis was joined by Reps. Leslie Herod and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, and Sens. Leroy Garcia and Rhonda Fields as well as bill sponsors such as Elizabeth Eps, all of whom were wearing face coverings and maintaining CDC recommended six feet apart.

In a press statement this morning, the Governor expressed the significance of signing this bill today, the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth.

“And of course, although we celebrate that day, Juneteenth did not mark the end of racism in our country. Nor did it even begin to end the racial inequities seen within our society,” Polis says.

“Black Americans specifically deserve to feel safe riding a bike in their communities or walking to a convenience store, interacting with the police, or just being in their own homes,” he adds. “We cannot wait any longer to knock down institutional racism born out of America’s original sin, slavery.”

Watch Governor Polis’s full statement here.

Along with Polis, Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez made a statement at the signing this morning which she began by acknowledging the indigenous tribes whose land they stood on.

“I want to recognize the unfortunate hurt and pain that families have had to feel in order for us to get to this place because we are talking about generations of pain and suffering. And, as you heard, this is not the end; this is one small step, and there is still a tremendous amount of work ahead of us.” Rep Gonzales-Gutierrez states.

Outside the capitol, volunteers and demonstrators gathered to continue talks about systemic racism and the work that still needs to be done. One speaker, Hashim Coates, refers to SB 217 not as the finish line, but as the “lacing of the shoes before the marathon.”