New York Considers Requiring Additional Gun Training for Police Officers

A new bill proposed in the New York State Legislature would require firearm training for police officers in an effort to reduce the number of police-involved shootings. Under current law, officers can carry a gun for their first year on the job, even if they haven't gone through the training. According to the bill text, the new law would prohibit police officers from “carrying or using a firearm during any phase of the officer's official duties unless the officer has satisfactorily completed a course of training that meets or exceeds the minimum standards established by the municipal police training council.” The bill was introduced by state Sen. Jamaal Bailey, a Democrat who has brought the bill to the legislature several times before. Twice, the bill has been stalled in the Senate’s Local Government Committee, in part because the legislation would require local police departments to fund the cost of training. Bailey said that the legislation is necessary because of the first-year exception in the law and the lack of requirement that police officers complete an annual training in appropriate use of force. “This is an untenable situation for the safety of the public, the police officer and fellow officers … It is possible for a police officer, after initial training, to work his or her entire career without receiving additional training with firearms.” Bailey is modeling the legislation off of requirements for armed peace officers, security guards, and retired law enforcement officers to complete yearly firearm training. Several high profile police shootings have renewed interest in requiring more training for police officers, including a shooting in late September in which a New York City police officer was killed by “friendly fire.” Shortly after the incident, several former firearm instructors for the NYPD, including retired trainer Steve Minguez, said the training for officers is woefully inadequate. “I mean, for God’s sake, we have police officers right now in New York City who don’t even know how to take their gun out of their holster properly or put it back in their holster correctly—after they’ve been trained,” he said. But Keith Ross, a former police academy instructor, said that training can’t help in every situation. “We have to remember that police officers, however much we're trained, are still human beings and when we confront stressful situations we have the same reactions that everybody else would,” Ross said.[Jamestown Post-Journal; Gothamist]

BIRD CONSERVATION | A new report from the National Audubon Society, a bird conservation organization, found that two-thirds of birds in the country will face extinction by 2100 due to climate change. The change will be particularly stark in the Pacific Northwest, where many species have already begun to decline as their habitats are destroyed for housing. Spokane Audubon Society Spokeswoman Madonna Luers said that over 3 million birds have disappeared from North America since 1970, but that the real concern in the years to come will be the potential loss of entire species. “This is talking diversity. We could be living in a world that only has a handful of different kinds of birds. It’s pretty scary … but I think every individual can help by supporting the natural spaces, forest wetland and range spaces. We need those types of open space now more than ever,” she said. In Washington, the state is taking steps to address climate change by expanding its project planning timeline from two to 25 years, so that they can focus on long-term initiatives to protect certain habitats. Jeff Davis, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s director of conservation, said that housing crunch in the state has posed a challenge for preserving habitats and for reducing carbon emissions. “We have a tremendous restoration opportunity in the cities. We have to be smart about it, because affordable housing is a real conservation crisis for us. Especially in the Puget Sound. A lot of people have to hop on I-5 and drive three hours to a house they can afford,” he said. [Idaho Falls Post-Register]

SOCCER TEAM | Sacramento is set to start the Major League Soccer League’s 29th team. City officials have been in discussions with MLS for five years. Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who helped facilitate the city’s proposal for the team, said that the move was historic. “Sacramento is no longer just becoming the next great American city. We are,” he said. Earlier this year, the city council offered a $33 million incentive package to attract MLS to their city, including an infrastructure financing plan funded by property tax increases. The plan will reimburse a development group for building $27 million worth of streets, sewers, and other land development needs near the new stadium. The city will also wave over $2 million worth of building permit fees and provide $3 million in policing and traffic control during games. The new team will be established under the banner of the Republic FC, the city’s existing soccer team that plays in a lower division. “Today is a day that will go down in history for our club and our city. We would not be here without the support of our fans and the entire community. This is their day,” the team said in a statement. [KCRA; Sacramento Bee]

KIM KARDASHIAN-WEST | Reality star Kim Kardashian-West asked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to stay the execution of a man on death row in the state. Rodney Reed was convicted of murder and has been on death row for 21 years, but maintains his innocence. DNA experts working for the Innocence Project, which is handling Reed's appeal, agree, saying his guilt is “medically and scientifically impossible.”  He is set to be executed on November 20 unless the governor intervenes. According to Reed’s attorneys, two new witnesses have come forward in recent months with evidence that would prove his innocence. They are now asking for a new trial, which Kardashian-West supports. “PLEASE Gov. Abbott, how can you execute a man when since his trial, substantial evidence that would exonerate Rodney Reed has come forward and even implicates the other person of interest. I URGE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING,” she tweeted. Prosecutors for the state say that all of Reed’s appeals have been exhausted. [Fort-Worth Telegram; CNN; Austin American-Statesman]

UNIONIZING | The Nevada Highway Patrol Association has asked to be recognized as a collective bargaining unit for state law enforcement officers. The group hopes to represent state troopers, parole and probation officers, fire marshals, detectives, park rangers, and university police. The union would be the third group of state employees to unionize since a new state law went into effect this year allowing state workers to collectively bargain for the first time. NHPA President Matt Kaplan said that state troopers are drastically underpaid compared to municipal police in the state. “Filing for recognition is the first step in the process to begin negotiating appropriate compensation and working conditions for state police. We are thrilled with the growth of our membership to accomplish this recognition and our goal as a union will always be to ensure our communities receive the highest level of service from our members,” he said. [Reno Gazette Journal; Associated Press]