PHOENIX — Arizona lawmakers are moving tolimit the role of civilians in reviewing police misconduct.
The Senate on Wednesday approved several measures backed by police unions in the wake of a national reckoning over racial injustice.
Senate Republicans approved a bill requiring that sworn officers control at least two-thirds of the seats on police review boards.
The Senate also backed a measure requiring 80 hours of law enforcement training for civilians on review boards.
RELATED: Ex-DPS director urges transparency, warns against video secrecy in body-cam bill
Republicans say officers should be evaluated by peers who know the challenges of the job.
Civil rights advocates say the measures are a step back from the growing trend of having civilians oversee police discipline to ensure public accountability.
