Help Reform Law Enforcement

Request that the Virginia Senate Vote Down Senate Bill HB5013 which removes Law Enforcement Officers from the Qualified Immunity protection. Support reform which includes law enforcement participation to produce real change in training and practices and reduce real and perceived wrongful actions by law enforcement.

Ending qualified immunity opens law enforcement officials to frivolous lawsuits and asks individual officers and sheriffs to pay for costly liability insurance – the State would also have to increase their liability insurance, which could cost $4 million plus. The State and localities may have to raise salaries to compensate for the cost to the officer/deputy.

Qualified Immunity does NOT protect “bad” officers. It does protect officers from frivolous suits brought by trial attorneys. Qualified Immunity does not protect officers who violate policy, laws or rights, they can still be sued and/or charged with a crime as well as suffer internal discipline or termination.

The Law Enforcement community wants to better their profession. In the past, reform has been accomplished by having all stakeholders participate in crafting the legislation. In this instance NO law enforcement groups have been permitted to participate. In fact, this particular legislation is supported and crafted by trial attorneys, who are the ones that will gain through the frivolous suits.

This petition requests that the appropriate law enforcement committees of the House and Senate start over and create real law enforcement reform. We request the Virginia State legislative bodies WORK WITH the law enforcement community (to include the Virginia Chiefs of Police Association, Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, Behind the Line Nova/National Police Wives association) to come up with reasonable solutions to meaningful changes in police reform.

Police officers are willing to sacrifice themselves, but few are willing to sacrifice the future of their families. If this bill is passed and becomes law, many will leave, retire or just bide their time until they can leave. Law enforcement recruiting is already difficult. New applicants are at record lows and will get worse. No longer will agencies be able to hire the best to fill the vacancies.

We urge you to defeat HB 5013 and remand the subject to committees to create real reform. The law enforcement community wants to work with the legislature to accomplish our common goals.