60D615CCF200F7AC872583BC006CDA2D Hearing Summary

Senators Fields and Gardner, co-prime sponors, explained SB19-166, concerning the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board revoking the certification of a peace officer who is found to have made an untruthful statement. 

Senator Gardner distibuted Amendments L. 003 (Attachment E), L. 004 (Attachment F) and L. 005 (Attachment G). 

Senator Gardner answered questions from the committee about support for the bill by law enforcement.  He stated that some of the concerns law enforcement had about due process are addressed in the amendments.  Discussion followed about the role of local law enforcement entities in hiring and firing and concerns that the bill provides a way to undermine that process.  The bill sponsors emphasized that the bill creates a process for POST revocations only, as well as sets up an administrative process for departments that do not have a neutral fact finder.   

Discussion continued about what happens when a local enforcement authority and POST reach a different conclusion about untruthful statements.  Other topics discussed included internal affairs investigations, information sharing between agencies, and the relationship between POST certification and employment as a law enforcement officer. 

Chief Michael Phibbs, representing the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, spoke in support of the bill.  He stressed that the bill addresses critical facts, not small white lies.  He noted the support of Colorado Municipal League and Colorado State Patrol and answered questions from the committee about the narrow scope of the bill.  Discussion followed about the appeals process at POST and decertification. 

Senators Fields and Gardner made closing remarks.  They stressed that the bill prevents law enforcement officers who are fired from securing subsequent jobs in the field.