New laws force adjustments for local police

DAVENPORT – 12 new laws changing the way law enforcement conducts its job that passed state legislature in May and went into effect Sunday, July 25 are causing concern and an adjustment period for local officers, sergeants, deputies, chiefs and sheriffs.

The laws, which vary from restrictions on pursuing vehicles to banning chokeholds to requiring mental health calls to be responded to by mental health professionals or EMS workers instead of law enforcement will change the way many emergency calls and situations are handled.

“Overall, there’s significant concern. A lot of this has to do with d...