Florida Gov. DeSantis signs bipartisan police use of force bill

Florida police now have new rules to follow. Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a police reform bill into law.

HB 7051 includes banning the arrest of children under the age of 7 for non-violent offenses, and changes the use of chokeholds, only allowing officers to do so if they feel threatened.

STORY: Man walking alongside the road carrying gun exchanges fire with Columbia Co deputies, sheriff says

”We want to live,” Wayne told Action News Jax. Wayne welcomes the legislation. ”I understand they’ve got a hard job, but chokeholds can be very deadly, and you’ve gotta be very responsible when you got people’s lives in your hands, and you’ve gotta treat that same person with the same responsibility that you’d want them to treat you,” he added.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office made changes prior to the bill.

Director of Operations Russ Martin says SJSO now classifies chokeholds as deadly force.

Under the law, agencies will also have to submit quarterly reports to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement any time use of force results in a serious injury, a death, or a person being shot.

Martin says it’s time law enforcement agencies respond to the trends and patterns of police brutality seen across the nation.

ONLY ON: Family remembers 15-year-old son, spreads message about gun safety

”By all means, we want to listen to what the community has to say. We do hear their voices. Ultimately we’re out here to serve them the best we can. I think this is just another step forward in the progression of law enforcement,” Martin said.

Martin calls the new legislation a step in the right direction.

©2021 Cox Media Group