Proposed ban - Cops shooting non danger to others suicidal

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Utah police officers could soon be banned from shooting at someone if the person is suicidal but isn’t a threat to anyone else.

The state law now says a police officer is allowed to use deadly force if a suspect poses “a threat of serious bodily injury to the officer or to others.”

HB237, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost, D-Salt Lake City, clarifies that police should not shoot if the suspect is only a threat to themselves.

“I know that our community wants better outcomes,” Dailey-Provost said Friday. “I absolutely know our law enforcement wants better outcomes. No police officer wants to be in the situation where they are confronting someone who is attempting suicide-by-cop.”

Deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney Darcy Goddard said during the Friday committee hearing that by adding this language to the law, it will affect how police officers are trained. Currently they are taught to “eliminate the threat,” but the law change would give police the ability to retreat or take a different approach if they are interacting with someone who is suicidal.

“What we’re trying to do here is give officers the training — and the permission — to step back and take a step away from the idea that they have to abate the threat no matter what,” Goddard said.
The committee gave unanimous approval of the bill, and it now heads to the Senate for a full vote. The bill already cleared the House on a 54-16 vote.

Daily-Provost was asked Friday why 16 representatives voted against the bill, and she said several of her colleagues told her “things were moving fast” and they felt too many police reform bills were being run this session.

The Senate committee on Thursday also gave unanimous approval to HB334, which would require Utah police officers to receive yearly training in how to respond to people with mental illnesses, autism and other neurological and developmental disorders.

The bill comes after a Salt Lake City police officer shot and critically injured a 13-year-old boy, who has autism, in September.