PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island’s largest city has enacted a sweeping police accountability measure, which proponents say could be a national model for ending discriminatory profiling by race, gender identity, immigration status and other factors.
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza (HOR’-hay ay-LOR’-sah), a Democrat, signed the ordinance into law Thursday. It takes effect in January.
Elorza says it’s the “most comprehensive community-police relations law in the country.”
The all-Democrat city council approved it earlier this month after years of debate and community activism. The measure had stalled in April after the police union called it a “slap in the face.”
Some minor changes were made to reflect police officers’ concerns. The union remained opposed.
The wide-ranging law mandates policies for traffic stops and police body cameras and reforms the police department’s gang database.
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