DENVER (AP) — Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation Friday designed to shed light on the conclusions of internal police investigations into alleged officer misconduct by making investigation documents available to the public.
The law allows citizens to obtain records of internal affairs investigations, with proper redactions protecting witnesses, victims and others who aren’t the subject of an investigation. Sponsors Rep. James Coleman and Sen. Mike Foote, also Democrats, said the law will increase transparency — and trust — among law enforcement agencies and the public.
In the past, certain investigations that absolved officers in misconduct complaints have been kept secret — even in cases where municipalities have paid monetary settlements to affected citizens. (Read more here…)