Michigan House passes bill to shield police statements
LANSING, Mich. — The state House voted unanimously yesterday to send Gov.
Jennifer Granholm a bill that would keep involuntary statements made by police
officers from appearing in the media.
The bill, S.B.
647, would make confidential the involuntary answers given by law
enforcement officers involved in internal affairs investigations. Their
employers can threaten them with firing if they don’t answer investigators’
questions.
A spokeswoman wouldn’t say whether Graham supports the legislation, though
news organizations that oppose the bill expect her to sign it.
“When the governor takes action on that bill, we’ll be happy to announce it,”
Granholm spokesman Liz Boyd said. “I’m not going to say one way or the other
what the governor is going to do.”
See First Amendment Center article.