The House Criminal Justice Committee advances a bill that would give police the right to say “stay back” while they do their job, and establish a 25-foot safe zone between them and citizens. Pineville Rep. Mike Johnson is the bill sponsor. He tell committee members his bill is a safety measure, and allows a cop to take preventive steps for his or her own safety and the safety of an approaching citizen…:
“…where if the police officer requests that anyone back up, that they need to back up at least 25 feet…and failure to do so would subject them to the possibility of a misdemeanor,” says Johnson.
Johnson says people have been hurt for walking up suddenly on a cop doing his job, who didn’t know that person’s intentions. He says cops have been hurt and even killed in similar encounters. Opponents of the bill worried it will prevent people from being able to video police. Citizen and attorney Allison McCrery says the bill’s 25-foot buffer zone means witnesses will have limited sight, and oversight, of police actions…:
“I wouldn’t want a line judge at a football field calling a game if they were that far away.”
Johnson says the bill would apply only IF the officer asked or instructed you to stay back, and would not totally prevent approaching an officer – say to ask for help. Johnson says the bill’s language does not mention videotaping officers at all, but the 25-foot buffer zone is still plenty close for cell phone video…:
“Any suggestion that this – in any way, shape or form – denies somebody the opportunity to film is just not accurate.”
Violators could get fines and possible jail time. By a vote of 8-to-1, the bill moves to the House floor for debate.
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