Florida Bills Seek to Keep Names of Officers in Fatal Shootings Secret

Proposed legislation challenges recent Supreme Court ruling, sparking debate on police transparency and accountability.

Florida lawmakers are considering House Bill 1605 and House Bill 1607, which would allow the names of officers involved in fatal shootings to remain secret for five years.
The bills are a response to the Florida Supreme Court's ruling in November that refused to apply Marsy’s Law to allow police departments to keep secret the names of officers involved in fatal shootings.
Marsy’s Law, a 2018 state constitutional amendment aimed to bolster victim rights, is being used by police unions to declare officers “victims” of crimes when they are involved in violent incidents on the job.
If passed, the bills would reduce transparency and accountability in law enforcement, and could damage the relationship between police and the public.
The bills have the backing of powerful police unions in the state, but face opposition from media organizations, civil rights groups, and even supporters of Marsy's Law.