On Tuesday Larry Hicks, Geary County Commission Chair, testified in front of the Kansas House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice, opposing HB 2698.

The bill would change how citizens file complaints against law enforcement officers by making them sign a sworn affidavit. That affidavit would then be presented to the officer that the complaint is towards before any disciplinary action would be taken on said officer.

In Hick’s personal point of view he called the bill “extremely cumbersome” and “duplicitous.”

“It really doesn’t mean a whole heck of a lot, but a lot of effort to try and discourage people from making complaints against a law enforcement officer if they believe that they may have been falsely stopped,” Hicks said.

Hicks was one of ten people who testified in front of the committee Tuesday. Nine of the ten, including Hicks, testified in opposition of the bill.

“There was only one proponent for the bill who obviously was someone representing unions, from my own personnel perspective based on what he said. Much of what he had to say was nothing more than a lot of conjecture.”

Hicks did say that the committee didn’t take any action on the bill. Going forward the committee will compile and review all of the opposition the bill as well as research the proponents presentation.

“I am hopeful that the members of the committee will have enough objectivity to review it thoroughly and arrive at a decision that will not recommend that this piece of legislation be put into effect.”

Hicks also mentioned that two of the other people who testified in opposition of the bill included Riley County’s Public Safety Director and the Sheriff of Sedgwick County.