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Arizona Won't Keep Names of Cops Involved in Shootings Secret

Gov. Doug Ducey vetoed a bill Monday the would have kept the names of policemen in serious or deadly shootings from the public.

Gov. Doug Ducey flexed his veto power Monday, rejecting legislation that would have temporarily kept secret the names of police officers involved in serious or deadly shootings.

 

The hotly debated Senate Bill 1445 came amid heightened scrutiny of police nationwide after deadly-force incidents in Ferguson, Mo., Staten Island, N.Y., and Cleveland. Those incidents involved the deaths of Black males at the hands of White police officers, adding a racial undercurrent to the debate over deadly force.

The veto was the one of four the governor issued Monday.

Supporters of SB 1445, including police unions, argued that keeping confidential the names of officers would provide a cooling-off period to prevent protests, marches and retaliation against officers. Opponents — including police chiefs, civil-rights groups and attorneys for The Arizona Republic and KPNX — maintained the legislation was unnecessary and the confidentiality would undermine confidence in police departments.

Ducey, who pledged throughout his campaign to run a "transparent and accountable" government, had until Monday to sign the bill, veto it or let it become law without his signature.

 

 

Daniel Luzer is GOVERNING's news editor.
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