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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Marc Gergely |
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Gergely bill to protect police officers heads to governor
HARRISBURG, July 6 – State Rep. Marc Gergely's bill that would protect law enforcement officers in stressful situations is on its way to the governor.
Gergely introduced the legislation after the murder of three Pittsburgh police officers last year.
Gergely said the bill, H.B. 1332, unanimously passed the House last week. It prevents statements made by law enforcement officers to specialized critical incident stress management team members from being used in legal proceedings.
"We depend on police officers, corrections officers and other public safety responders to keep us safe." Gergely said. "When they face a life threatening or other stressful situation on the job, such as another officer killed in the line of duty, their private comments to crisis response teams should remain private."
Critical Incident Stress Management teams are deployed across the state to provide consultation, risk assessment, referral and on-site crisis intervention services to law enforcement officers following incidents claiming their colleagues' lives or involving the use of deadly force.
Gergely's bill would prohibit CISM team members from disclosing information they receive in legal proceedings, trials or investigations. The team members generally do not share the information, but Gergely said his bill would protect them from unmerited requests.
"These crisis teams exist to help law enforcement officers who have been through a stressful situation on the job. This bill will ensure anything officers say to CISM teams remains private and confidential."
The bill includes several exceptions to the confidentiality of the information exchanged, such as: the information indicates a clear and present danger to the law enforcement officer receiving services or other people; a law enforcement officer gives express consent to the testimony or voluntarily testifies; or the officer is deceased and the surviving spouse or estate administrator gives consent.
The governor is expected to sign the bill.
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