Around the Way with Dwayne Landers
The family of Tyre Nichols is expected to attend President Joe Biden’s
State of the Union address. They were invited by the chairman of the
Congressional Black Caucus, which has demanded justice in the wake of
Nichols’ death.
He died three days after Memphis police officers beat him following a
traffic stop.
The committee says it committed to passing police reform, including the
George Floyd Justice in Police Act. President Joe Biden has also called
on Congress to pass the law.
It would lower the criminal intent standard of an officer in question from
willful to knowing or reckless. It would also limit qualified immunity as a
defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement
officer.
The bill passed in the House during the last Congress, but never go
through the Senate.
Biden did sign an executive order after the bill failed to reach his desk.
He says the order includes “stricter use of force standards and
accountability provisions for federal law enforcement, as well as
measures to strengthen accountability at the state and local level.”
