Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has vetoed a bill that would have temporarily kept secret the names of police officers involved in serious or deadly shootings, reports the Arizona Republic. The hotly debated measure came amid heightened scrutiny of police nationwide after deadly-force incidents in Ferguson, Mo., Staten Island, N.Y., and Cleveland. Those incidents involved the deaths of black males at the hands of white police officers.
Supporters of the bill, including police unions, argued that keeping confidential the names of officers would provide a cooling-off period to prevent protests, marches and retaliation against officers. Opponents, including police chiefs, civil-rights groups and attorneys for the Arizona Republic, maintained the legislation was unnecessary and the confidentiality would undermine confidence in police departments. Ducey concluded the bill does not protect officers or their families, and he worried “it could result in unforeseen problems.” He wrote he was most swayed by concerns raised by police chiefs, who under current law have the authority to make decisions in the best interests of their departments.