Gov. Kristi Noem said she’s considering several ways to reform policing, in response to protests across South Dakota and the nation after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
During https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMaKqqwA7J8">a press conference Wednesday, Noem listed three things she’s examining.
One is police union contracts.
“I saw a statistic yesterday that said 25 percent of police officers that had been fired for certain reasons had appealed and gotten their jobs back,” Noem said. “I think we should be examining those kinds of policies and see if they’re appropriate.”
Noem also said civil asset forfeiture laws may need reform. Those laws allow police officers to seize property believed to have been involved in criminal activity, even in some cases when the owner is not guilty of a crime.
At the federal level, Noem said qualified immunity should be discussed. That’s a legal doctrine that often shields police from prosecution and civil penalties.
A reporter asked Noem if she supports making body-camera footage a public record in South Dakota. Noem said that should be considered.
“We are sitting down with an open mind, examining the data and the facts around each of these policies and wondering if there are reforms that could be necessary to create a much better situation into the future,” Noem said.
Noem said she invites African Americans to engage with her on ideas that could make a long-term difference in policing.
