A bill has been introduced to the Kentucky General Assembly intended to strengthen law enforcement’s ability to detain and question a person who has “committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime …”
State Sen. Steve Meredith, R-Leitchfield, introduced Senate Bill 89 on Tuesday. The bill, if passed by legislators, would be added as an amendment to Kentucky Revised Statute 431.
The proposed measure reads as follows:
(1). Any peace officer may stop any person in a public place whom the officer encounters under circumstances which reasonably indicate that the person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime, and the officer may demand: (a) 1. The person’s name, address, and date of birth; or 2. The person’s government-issued identification, if in the person’s possession; and (b) An explanation for the person’s actions. (2) Any person stopped under subsection (1) of this section who fails to identify himself or herself or explain the person’s actions to the satisfaction of the officer may be detained and further questioned and investigated by the peace officer for a period not to exceed two hours. (3) Detention under this section is not an arrest and shall not be recorded as an arrest in any official record. At the end of the detention period, the detained person shall be released or arrested and charged with a crime outside of this section.
“Over 30 states have similar laws (as it) provides an additional layer of protection for law enforcement and our citizens,” Meredith said about his proposal.
Meredith added that he filed the bill at the request of Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins and County Attorney for Grayson County, Jeremy Logsdon.
In response to social media’s reaction to the proposed legislation, some of which has been critical of the proposed measure, Meredith stated, “I thought this is what a senator was supposed to do. You file a bill, it is debated in committee and on the floor of each chamber, and if the majority agree, it becomes law; if not, it doesn’t.”
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
