Republican Governor Introducing Bill Granting Immunity to Police
Fred Hamble
Jan 14, 2018
The governor of New Mexico is planning to introduce legislation that would grant immunity to members of law enforcement for their actions in the line of duty.
Republican Governor Susana Martinez told the Albuquerque Journal the planned legislation would provide law enforcement officers with legal immunity for their actions while 'protecting and serving' the public.
“I don’t believe that police officers should be under this constant threat of lawsuits that will often cause them to pause. If they’re following their training, there should be something that protects them.”
Martinez, a former district attorney, has been a very good friend to law enforcement since taking office. During her first term as governor, she passed legislation requiring mandatory DNA samples taken from all felony arrestees, and has recently introduced legislation to restore the death penalty in New Mexico.
Meanwhile, the governor said the immunity bill would help taxpayers in the long run, by reducing payouts to the victims of abuse and mistreatment by police.
“This bill would protect citizens and law enforcement officers from the massive payouts that taxpayers are giving crooks and thieves who are hurt or injured by police officers who are doing their job."
Critics have described the legislation as terribly misguided and more than likely unconstitutional, while citing a federal investigation that found Albuquerque police had engaged in a pattern of excessive force. That led to a settlement agreement between the city and the U.S. Department of Justice that has created no noticeable change.
Martinez, who is entering her final year as governor amid a spike in disapproval rating, has been previously mentioned as running mate for multiple Republican presidential candidates because of her broad Republican appeal as a woman who is against birth control, a Hispanic person who is against immigration, and a state legislator who has killed off job growth while reducing taxes on corporations.
http://act.tv/articles/republican-introducing-bill-granting-police-immunity
Fred Hamble
Jan 14, 2018
The governor of New Mexico is planning to introduce legislation that would grant immunity to members of law enforcement for their actions in the line of duty.
Republican Governor Susana Martinez told the Albuquerque Journal the planned legislation would provide law enforcement officers with legal immunity for their actions while 'protecting and serving' the public.
“I don’t believe that police officers should be under this constant threat of lawsuits that will often cause them to pause. If they’re following their training, there should be something that protects them.”
Martinez, a former district attorney, has been a very good friend to law enforcement since taking office. During her first term as governor, she passed legislation requiring mandatory DNA samples taken from all felony arrestees, and has recently introduced legislation to restore the death penalty in New Mexico.
Meanwhile, the governor said the immunity bill would help taxpayers in the long run, by reducing payouts to the victims of abuse and mistreatment by police.
“This bill would protect citizens and law enforcement officers from the massive payouts that taxpayers are giving crooks and thieves who are hurt or injured by police officers who are doing their job."
Critics have described the legislation as terribly misguided and more than likely unconstitutional, while citing a federal investigation that found Albuquerque police had engaged in a pattern of excessive force. That led to a settlement agreement between the city and the U.S. Department of Justice that has created no noticeable change.
Martinez, who is entering her final year as governor amid a spike in disapproval rating, has been previously mentioned as running mate for multiple Republican presidential candidates because of her broad Republican appeal as a woman who is against birth control, a Hispanic person who is against immigration, and a state legislator who has killed off job growth while reducing taxes on corporations.
http://act.tv/articles/republican-introducing-bill-granting-police-immunity
