Governor Wolf vetos HB 1538.
Monday November 21, 2016 at 2:15 pm
By James Roxbury

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As released by the Governor's Press Office.

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Governor Wolf vetoed the following bill:

HB 1538 (White) – Amends Title 44 (Law and Justice) adding provisions for law enforcement activities by providing for release of law enforcement officer information when firearm discharged or use of force.

“While I am deeply concerned for the safety of the Commonwealth’s police officers, government works best when trust and openness exist between citizens and their government, and as such, I cannot sign into law a policy that will enshrine the withholding of information in the public interest,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “These situations in particular – when law enforcement uses deadly force – demand utmost transparency, otherwise a harmful mistrust will grow between police officers and the communities they protect and serve. Further, I cannot allow local police department policies to be superseded and transparency to be criminalized, as local departments are best equipped to decide what information is appropriate to release to the public.”

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Tags: Gov. Tom Wolf, HB 1538, Law and Justice, Police, Rep. White, Veto