Igliozzi Defends Petition to Repeal Police Officers' Bill of Rights After Criticism From LaFortune

Igliozzi Defends Petition to Repeal Police Officers' Bill of Rights After Criticism From LaFortune

Providence City Council Finance Chair John Igliozzi said he his standing by his decision to start a petition to repeal the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights, after colleague Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune said he appropriated her work. 

Igilozzi made the petition announcement Tuesday, after LaFortune introduced a council resolution to be introduced this Thursday. 

Steve Ahlquist with Uprise RI first reported the exchange between LaFortune and Igliozzi at Tuesday night’s Finance Meeting.

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“I just want to make a note,” said LaFortune. “Part of the whole movement and why people are calling for us to really hold our police officers accountable – to look at the oppressive structures and systemic racism that currently exists within our society – is that for centuries Black bodies have been deemed invisible or less than.

“And I’m just thinking about this whole initiative that you’re launching, and it just feels like that was an idea that was appropriated because someone else – who happened to be a person of color, did the work, did the research, put in the resolution on Friday to be introduced this Thursday, and all of a sudden, you  have taken the credit," she said. 

Igliozzi Responds 

“First of all, as I stated in my press release, the genesis of my action was the interaction between Councilwoman Harris and [Public Safety Commissioner Steve] Pare, when he said that if a George Floyd situation happened here, the officer couldn’t be fired, because of the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights,” said Igliozzi. “We were shocked." 

“So that’s what precipitated why I chose to do a petition process,” said Igliozzi. “Councilwoman LaFortune's doing a resolution — we’re both trying to achieve the same goal. My petition is to say people want it repealed, and to forward the signatures to the Speaker, Senate President, and Governor. It’s state law. I chose the petition process because with democracy, this gets people mobilized, and get people all across the state involved. A resolution is simply a statement of the City Council.”

See Igliozzi's Statement -- And Link to Petition -- HERE

“This isn’t about me or her. This is about the community, with the goal of repealing the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights. It’s an outdated law that created super protections for officers who committed misconduct. This is about having the average officer have the same due rights as anyone else. It might have had a purpose at its time when it was introduced, but it’s proven to be a protective shield and needs to be repealed,” said Igliozzi. 

"I support her effort — I hope she supports mine,” said Igliozzi.

LaFortune was unavailable for further comment at time of publication.