Corrupt Law Enforcement is Alive and Well in Alabama – Now They Want Immunity
If this bill passes, it won’t be long before bad cops across Alabama could take full advantage of the system, knowing they can act with impunity.
Opinion of the Editor -
Alabama lawmakers are at it again, pushing dangerous legislation that erodes the rights of citizens while shielding the government from accountability. The so-called "Back the Blue Legal Protection Act" (HB202), introduced by Rep. Rex Reynolds, is not about protecting good officers—it’s about making sure bad ones never face consequences.
This bill seeks to expand legal immunity for police officers, making it nearly impossible to hold them accountable when excessive force, wrongful deaths, or outright corruption occur. Let’s be clear: I'm a Republican. I back the blue. I respect law enforcement. But at what cost? This legislation is not about supporting honest officers—it’s about giving blanket protection to those who could abuse their power.
Alabama already makes it incredibly difficult to sue government officials. If a police officer recklessly takes a life or severely injures someone, the most a municipality can be sued for is $100,000 per person. That’s nothing when compared to the devastation these incidents leave behind. Now, legislators want to go even further, giving officers another layer of immunity by allowing judges to throw out cases before they even make it to trial. How does that serve justice?
We’ve seen what happens when corrupt cops go unchecked. Just look at the recent scandal in Hanceville, where an entire police department was engulfed in misconduct. Imagine if those officers had even more protection from legal consequences. If this bill passes, it won’t be long before bad cops across Alabama could take full advantage of the system, knowing they can act with impunity.
The problem with this bill isn’t that it protects officers—it’s that it shields the worst among them. Good officers don’t need extra immunity because they do their jobs with integrity. This bill makes it harder to root out corruption and misconduct, further eroding public trust in law enforcement. That's why several First Responder and peace officer groups do not support this legislation.
Alabamians should be outraged. This isn’t about law and order; it’s about creating a system where those in power answer to no one. If you agree, call your state representatives today and express your concerns. If we truly support law enforcement, we must also support accountability. Anything less is a betrayal of justice and our Constitution.
