ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers may be ready to put new limits on the use of “no-knock” warrants after an infant was severely burned by a flash grenade during an overnight police raid last May in north Georgia.
A bill introduced this month with bipartisan sponsors requires that “no-knock” warrants be carried out between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. unless a judge specifically OKs an overnight search. It also requires more oversight and written training policies within police agencies.
Republican Rep. Kevin Tanner, a former sheriff’s deputy who worked in law enforcement for 18 years, said he already was discussing limits on the warrants when the toddler’s case became national news. Under his bill, law enforcement agencies also would have to report their warrants to the state. Tanner said that will indicate whether the tactic is being overused as opponents have argued.
“The attention always is drawn to the bad situations, but we have hundreds of search warrants conducted in Georgia and there’s never a problem with them,” Tanner said. “We’re just trying to tighten the process and put some speed bumps in the pathway.”
Frank Rotondo, executive director of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, said his organization’s members are fine with that. The proposal adds accountability for law enforcement and judges signing off on the warrants, he said.
via Georgia lawmakers plan another look at no-knock warrants | www.wsbtv.com.
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