JOE?
JOE: NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL REFORM,
IT’S IN THE EARLY STAGES NOW,
BUT SENATOR SCOTT’S WALTER SCOTT
NOTIFICATION ACT AIMS TO UNVEIL
SOME OF THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING
OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS.
>> THIS IS JAMIR’S STOCKING
RIGHT HERE.
JOE: TIFFANY COPELAND WILL HAVE
TO COPE THIS CHRISTMAS WITHOUT
HER FIANCE, JERMAINE MASSE
>> THAT’S A LOT, YOU KNOW, TO GO
FROM PLANNING A WEDDING TO GOING
TO A FUNERAL.
JOE: IN MARCH GREENVILLE COUNTY
DEPUTIES SHOT MASSEY AFTER THEY
SAY HE LUNGED AT THEM WITH A
KNIFE.
>> THEY KILLED HIM.
THEY SHOT HIM 11 TIMES AND GOT
AWAY WITH IT.
NOBODY WAS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
IT.
IT WAS A JUSTIFIED SHOOTING, SO
THEY SAY.
JOE: BEHIND THE CHRISTMAS TREE,
COPELAND TRIES TO SEE A SILVER
LINING.
>> INSTEAD OF JUST HOLDING OUT
FOR SO LONG, THEY COULD HAVE
JUST TOLD US WHAT HAPPENED.
OR HOW DID IT ESCALATE TO GET
THAT BAD THAT FAST?
JOE: SENATOR TIM SCOTT IS
PROPOSING THE WALTER SCOTT
NOTIFICATION ACT, NAMED AFTER
THE MAN GUNNED DOWN BY A NORTH
CHARLESTON POLICE OFFICER.
>> IT’S SAD THAT IT TOOK ALL
THESE OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS
TO GET TO THIS POINT.
THE STANDARD OF ACCOUNTABILITY
IS NECESSARY.
IT PUTS PRESSURE ON THEM.
JOE: THE LAW WOULD REQUIRE
STATES TO KEEP TRACK OF CERTAIN
DATA RELATED TO OFFICER-INVOLVED
SHOOTINGS.
STATES THAT DON’T COMPLY COULD
LOSE FEDERAL FUNDING.
>> THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT
PROBABLY COULD BE CHANGED, AS
FAR AS TO MAKE LAW ENFORCEMENT
MORE ACCOUNTABLE, BUT IT’S A
WORK IN PROGRESS.
JOE: LONGTIME LAW OFFICER JB
KELLEY SUPPORTS CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFORM, BUT DOESN’T BELIEVE
BROAD BRUSHSTROKES CAN ANSWER
THE PROBLEM.
>> YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT ON A
CASE BY CASE BASIS.
JOE: MEANWHILE, TIFFANY COPELAND
THINKS THE BILL COULD HELP
PREVENT TRAGEDY.
>> I DON’T WANT NOBODY ELSE TO
HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME
THING I’M GOING THROUGH.
JOE: THE FIRST STEP ACT PASSED
THE SENATE TODAY.
THE HOUSE WILL NOW VOTE ON THE
MEASURE BEFORE THE BILL COMES
BACK TO
