Pennsylvania Lawmakers Considering New Laws For Police Oversight

Joe Holden reports.

CITY'S ABANDONED EAST PRECINCTPOLICE STATION.TOM HANSON NEW YORK.IN HARRISBURG LAWMAKERS ARECONSIDERING NEW LAWS FORPOLICE OVERSIGHT.THIS COMES AFTER RECENT WEEKSOF UNREST OVER POLICE BRUTAL."EYEWITNESS NEWS" REPORTER JOEHOLDEN IS IN GRAYS FERRY THISEVENING WITH OUR COVERAGE.GOOD EVENING, JOE.Reporter: UKEE, GOODEVENING.THERE IS NO DOUBT SOME OF WHATIS BEING HEARD ON THE STREETSOF COURSE IS FILTERING UP TOSTATE CAPITOLS ACROSS THECOUNTRY INCLUDING HERE INPENNSYLVANIA.PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKERS HAVEACCELERATED MEASURES TOSTRENGTHEN OVERSIGHT OF THEHUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENTAGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE.[SIRENS]Reporter: THE HOUSEJUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON MONDAYFUNNELED THROUGH LEGISLATIONTO CREATE A TRACKING SYSTEMFOR POLICE SEEKING NEWEMPLOYMENT AND ALSO ANALYSISOF A POLICE CANDIDATE'S MENTALHEALTH FITNESS.ONE BILL WILL REQUIRE PTSDMENTAL EVALUATION EVERY OTHERYEAR FOR OFFICERS AND WITHIN30 DAYS AFTER THE USE OFDEADLY FORCE.Reporter: REPRESENTATIVEJORDAN HARRIS IS A DEMOCRATFROM PHILADELPHIA AND WHIP OFTHE COMMITTEE THAT GREENLIGHTED THE LEGISLATION THATCOMES AS COMMUNITIES ACROSSTHE COUNTRY REACT TO EXCESSIVEUSE OF FORCE BY OFFICERS INDEPARTMENTS IN MINNESOTA ANDGEORGIA.WE NEED TO LOOK INTO USE OFFORCE POLICIES ACROSS THECOMMONWEALTH.Reporter: LOCAL FRATERNALORDER OF POLICE PRESIDENTMCNESBY SAT DOWN WITH"EYEWITNESS NEWS" ON THEINCREASING SPOTLIGHT TRAINEDON LAW ENFORCEMENT.RIGHT IN YOU THERE'SNOTHING THAT'S GOING TOENHANCE POLICING.THEY JUST WANT TO TAKE AWAY.WE'RE NOT THE FLAVOR OF THEDAY.WE HAVE TO CONTINUE MOVING ONKEEP DOING OUR JOBS CONTINUEPROTECTING THE COMMUNITYBECAUSE WE STILL HAVE AHOMICIDE RATE THAT'S THROUGHTHE ROOF AND WE HAVE SHOOTINGSTHROUGH THE ROOF.SPEAKER OF THE HOUSEREPUBLICAN MIKE TURSI RELEASEDTHIS STATEMENT SAYING THELIVES OF EVERY CITIZEN MATTERSINCLUDING THE LIVES OF THOSECITIZENS OF COLOR.THESE REFORMS ARE IMPORTANT TOALL CITIZENS BUT ESPECIALLY TOOUR CITIZENS OF BLACK OR BROWNCOLOR WHO FEEL THREATENED BY ASYSTEM THAT CAN DISREGARDTHEIR HUMANITY.THERE'S SO MUCH NEGOTIATIONSTILL TO HAPPEN.ON WEDNESDAY, THE STATE SENATEJUDICIARY COMMITTEE GETS ACRACK AT SOME TESTIMONY.THEY'VE EXPECTING SOME 30WITNESSES ACROSS THE SPECTRUMOF THIS ENTIRE ISSUE.IT IS ONE ISSUE WE WILLCONTINUE OF COURSE TO MONITOR.LIVE IN GRAYS FERRY SECTION OF