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Law enforcement bill merits action

The overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers and deputies are good men and women who use force only when there is no alternative. They should not have to serve alongside brutes who view badges as licenses to harm other people — and sometimes kill them.

Ohio legislators, some admitting they should have done something about bad cops years ago, finally have a package of ideas. It was put together by two lawmakers with expertise — state Reps. Cindy Abrams, R-Harrison, who worked as a Cincinnati police officer; and Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, who served as a county sheriff for 10 years.

Among their ideas are hiring more minority officers, requiring psychological testing for new law enforcement personnel, creating a state database of officers who commit violent offenses, and taking the disciplinary process out of law enforcement agencies’ hands. Instead, arbitrators or judges would handle the task.

The two legislators said their plan is to “weed out the bad actors.”

Good. The Abrams-Plummer plan should be considered immediately by Ohio legislators. The sooner safeguards are put in place, the better.

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