Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a police reform bill (House Bill 7051)

In June, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a police reform bill (House Bill 7051) after unanimous decision in both the Florida House and Senate. The bill focuses on use-of-force police training and sets new standards for law enforcement, correctional officers, and police training academies. The bill went into effect on the first of this month.

According to the legislation, the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Committee should develop standards for training officials in the use of force.

Each recruitment agency should develop a policy on the use of force, to include:

• Proportional use of force.

• Alternative methods of using force, including downgrading methods.

• The authorities using restrictions on a subject, such use-of-force, should be limited and used only if officials believe that there is an imminent risk of serious injury or death to officials or others.

• The duty officer being held responsible for observing another officer using or attempting to use excessive force to intervene.

Beginning July 1, 2023, these standards must be included in all required basic qualification courses for law enforcement agencies to obtain the officer’s initial certification.

Despite the mass changes, Havana Police Department Chief Tracy Smith doubts the new legislation will affect the way his agency safeguards the Town of Havana, as Chief Smith says his department has already taken early initiative in examining the use of force in the department’s longtime commitment to the safety of Havana.

“Most of the changes have [already] been implemented in our policy here in Havana for many years,” said Chief Smith. “The law is not going to affect Havana, much because we have been practicing the changes way beforehand,” said Chief Smith. “We have not had to use force in any way…..