Auditor General DePasquale Joins Call for Action on Policing Reforms

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HARRISBURG (June 9, 2020) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today commended members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus and other legislators for continuing to demand action on policing reforms.

“People from all walks of life across the state and nation are standing up to demand reforms to end systemic racism and improve transparency and accountability of the police,” DePasquale said. “I commend the legislators who are demanding that the General Assembly stop delaying and advance reforms that are long overdue.

“I’m glad to see the House Speaker follow through on his pledge to begin serious discussion on these proposals by asking the governor to call for a special legislative session.”   

Earlier this year legislators introduced numerous bills to reform police procedures and improving police-community relations. The legislative package includes numerous bills that would, among other things:

• Address the use of deadly force,
• Reform the police hiring and certification/decertification process to include detailed personnel records,
• Enhance investigations of any incident of deadly use of force involving a law enforcement officer, and
• Address arbitration regarding police discipline.

Earlier today, DePasquale released a special report highlighting the need for additional reforms to Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system with an emphasis on systemic issues that disproportionately impact minority communities, such as requiring cash bail.

Learn more about the Department of the Auditor General online at www.PaAuditor.gov.

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