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Washington –
In
an
effort
to
improve
data
collecting
methods
at
local
law
enforcement
agencies,
U.S.
Senators
Tim
Scott
(R-SC)
and
Chuck
Grassley
(R-IA)
have
reintroduced
the
Walter
Scott
Notification
Act.
The
bill
would
require
states
that
receive
federal
funds
for
their
law
enforcement
program
to
properly
document
all
relevant
details
surrounding
an
officer-related
shooting
that
results
in
a
civilian
casualty.
“When
it
comes
to
tracking
police
shootings,
we
need
a
data
system
built
for
the
21st century,”
Scott
said.
“I
introduced
this
legislation
with
my
good
friend,
Senator
Grassley,
in
hopes
of
capturing
more
details
and
facts
so
that
we
can
better
address
the
issues
that
lead
to
officer-related
shooting
deaths.
I
believe
this
can
help
us
keep
both
our
officers
and
our
communities
safer.”
“Police
officers
put
themselves
into
harm’s
way
for
our
safety
every
day,
and
anytime
an
officer
uses
deadly
force
is
a
tragedy.
We
don’t
currently
have
a
comprehensive
system
to
learn
more
about
these
events
so
that
we
can
better
prevent
them
in
the
future.
The
data
we
collect
under
this
legislation
will
be
an
invaluable
resource
for
law
enforcement,
the
public
and
for
policymakers.
The
more
we
know
about
the
circumstances
around
officer-related
shootings,
the
safer
we
can
make
our
communities
for
everyone,”
Grassley
said.
“I
am
proud
to
partner
with
Senator
Scott
on
such
important
legislation.”
Under
the
proposed
legislation,
states
would
be
required
to
keep
track
of
a
number
of
data
points,
including
name,
race,
description
of
event,
and
overall
circumstances
that
led
up
to
the
weapon
being
discharged.
A
state
that
fails
to
comply
with
the
prescribed
requirements
could
be
subject
to
a
ten
percent
reduction
in
federal
grant
funds.
The
legislation
is
named
after
Walter
Scott,
a
South
Carolina-native
who
was
fatally
shot
by
former
North
Charleston
Police
Officer
Michael
Slager
on
April
4,
2015.
The
incident
received
nationwide
attention
after
video
footage
showed
Slager
shot
Walter
Scott
in
the
back
as
he
attempted
to
flee
the
scene
following
a
traffic
stop
triggered
by
a
broken
brake
light.
Just
over
two
years
after
the
incident,
Slager
pleaded
guilty
to
violating
Walter
Scott’s
civil
rights.
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