House Republicans, many of whom are former law enforcement officers, are criticizing a Democratic bill that would mandate cultural and sensitivity training for police recruits.
A progressive-backed bill seeking to mandate cultural and sensitivity training for police recruits has drawn the ire of House Republican lawmakers. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), would require individuals enrolled in police-training academies to receive instruction on ethics, racial bias, cultural diversity, and interactions with individuals with disabilities, mental health issues, and new immigrants.
Former sheriffs and current GOP Representatives John Rutherford (R-Fla.) and Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) have denounced the bill as an attempt to advance a "defund the police" agenda rather than engage in meaningful reform.
GOP Lawmakers Slam Bill Requiring Sensitivity Training for Police Recruits
"It is imperative that law enforcement officers are well-trained on agency policy and procedures and held to the highest standards that keep both officers and the public safe," Rutherford told Fox News Digital. "However, it is not the role of Congress, nor should it be, to tell local agencies what that training should look like."
Stauber accused Democrats of demonizing law enforcement officers and seeking to dismantle the institution.
GOP Lawmakers Slam Bill Requiring Sensitivity Training for Police Recruits
"Even after the failures of their extreme ‘Defund the Police’ movement, radical Democrats continue to demonize the brave men and women who protect and serve their communities. These anti-cop politicians don’t want real reform, they want to eradicate law enforcement altogether, and proposals like this continue to incite violence against them," Stauber said.
Former sheriff Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) dismissed the bill as "another dangerously ridiculous bad idea from the woke left."
GOP Lawmakers Slam Bill Requiring Sensitivity Training for Police Recruits
Rutherford emphasized his opposition to any effort to nationalize law enforcement agencies, which he views as the underlying objective of Cohen's bill.
"Public safety depends on a diverse network of law enforcement agencies at the state and local levels. This bill would tie the hands of local and state police agencies and require them to meet national standards overseen by presidential appointees and bureaucrats in Washington," Rutherford said.
GOP Lawmakers Slam Bill Requiring Sensitivity Training for Police Recruits
Rep. Cohen's office has not issued a response to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The bill's introduction follows the police killing of Sonya Massey in Illinois, a Black woman who was shot by a police deputy in her home after calling 911 about a suspected prowler. The deputy was fired and recently pleaded not guilty to charges, including first-degree murder.
In addition to mandating sensitivity training, the bill would require independent probes and prosecutions of officers accused of using deadly force.
House Republicans have consistently opposed legislative efforts to address racial bias and misconduct within law enforcement. They have argued that such measures weaken law enforcement and undermine public safety.
Progressive Democrats, on the other hand, contend that systemic racism and bias within law enforcement disproportionately affect minority communities and that comprehensive reform is essential to address these issues.
