Colorado Springs leaders reflect on past year after George Floyd’s death
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)- On May 25, 2020, former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, killing him.
Floyd's death sparked a worldwide call for racial justice and police reform -- including demonstrations across Colorado, including protests last May in downtown Colorado Springs.
In response to the outcry, Colorado lawmakers passed Senate Bill 217, the Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity bill. The changes take effect July 1, 2023. One of the changes includes prohibiting the use of a chokehold.
When the bill initially passed the Senate, Colorado Springs Chief Vince Niski expressed concerns, saying it would impact policing. Tuesday, KRDO reached out to the department to see how SB-217 has affected local law enforcement.
"The most significant change from 217 for us was, we allowed neck restraints in lethal force situations and that bill just disallows neck restraints in any situation," said Lieutenant James Sokolik with Colorado Springs Police Department.
Within the past year, Colorado Springs City Council authorized the Law Enforcement Transparency and Accountability Commission to be a source of support for those in the community.
"Certainly it was out of George Floyd's murder and concerns in the community that encouraged City Council to establish LETAC, and so under their charter, we have been operating since last fall," added Steven Kern, the vice-chairperson of LETAC.
While Floyd's death was not local, Kern says the commission felt a sense of urgency to acknowledge the issues surrounding the incident.
"Right now we are looking very carefully at the use of force and the process we are undergoing is hearing directly from CSPD about their own policies and procedures and we are in the middle of looking at training for officers and also accountability."
The members of the committee are tasked with following:
To advise and recommend areas and topics of study related to police operations, best practices, and resource allocation, solicit public input and promote improved relationships between the citizens and the Police Department
In essence, the commission is working together to create a bridge of understanding for both law enforcement and those protesting for change.
On April 20, Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of Floyd. His attorney fired a motion for a new trial on May 4, saying multiple errors happened during the trial that violated Chauvin's constitution rights to a due process and a fair trial.
