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Proposals Would Mandate Body Cameras, Diversity Training; Limit Tear Gas Use By Cops

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,
Marshall Griffin
Published December 1, 2014 at 5:30 PM CST
State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City
Jason Rosenbaum, St. Louis Public Radio
State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City

Two St. Louis County lawmakers are proposing numerous reforms for law enforcement officers in Missouri in the wake of the unrest in Ferguson.

State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City
Credit Jason Rosenbaum, St. Louis Public Radio
State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City

Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, says changes are needed to "protect Missouri citizens from being abused by overzealous law enforcement." She's planning to file a bill that would:

  • Scale back the current "use of deadly force" laws in Missouri, allowing officers to use deadly force only in instances where a suspect poses a clear danger to the officer or the public.
  • Require a special prosecutor if a police officer shoots an unarmed citizen, or a police officer kills an unarmed citizen by any other means.
  • Require officers to wear accurate and visible identification with full names clearly displayed when law enforcement is deployed to a protest situation or a scene of civil unrest.
  • Bar law enforcement officers from "hog-tying" citizens or verbally degrading or making derogatory comments toward any peaceful protestors.
  • Require the governor, when he or she declares a state of emergency due to civil unrest, to immediately reassign and mobilize a sufficient number of state social workers, counselors and psychologists to the area.
  • Bar the deployment of tear gas unless the governor has declared a state of emergency and a neutral third party agency (such as Amnesty International) is on the scene to certify that the tear gas will be deployed in a humanitarian manner.
  • Require the governor, when he or she declares a state of emergency due to civil unrest, to concurrently contract with a neutral third party agency (such as Amnesty International) to immediately report any abuses of human, civil, and constitutional rights to the Missouri and United States attorney generals.
  • All law enforcement agencies in Missouri must be accredited by July 1, 2016.


State Rep. Sharon Pace, D-North County, is proposing legislation that would require diversity training and regular psychological evaluations for police officers. Both proposals by Pace and Chappelle-Nadal would also require officers to wear body cameras while on duty.

"Audio and video from cameras do not lie," Chappelle-Nadal said. "Too often the police tell one story, while the people tell another. Cameras with both audio and video will assist in settling controversial disputes."

The 2015 legislative session begins Jan. 7.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

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Missouri News
Marshall Griffin
Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
See stories by Marshall Griffin
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.