BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Protestors across the country are asking for police reform in the wake of George Floyd's death, and in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
On Beacon Hill, State Representative Carlos González and House Speaker Robert DeLeo have announced new legislation to require police officers to be certified, as well as putting restrictions on chokeholds and neck restraints.
The exceptions being limited to situations when deadly force is deemed necessary.
"I feel fairly confident, as one could feel at this time, that something will be done and something will be on the books here in Massachusetts," Speaker DeLeo said on Nightside with Dan Rea.
DeLeo said he plans on having the bill on the governor's desk by the end of next month. It would require an independent office of police standards that requires members of the force to intervene if other officers are using unreasonable force.
This comes as Massachusetts is one of six states in the U.S. that does not have a certification or licensing process for police officers.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports