A reworked bill to protect law enforcement whistleblowers, House Bill 1031, has passed a key committee in Colorado after months of stakeholder engagement. Spearheaded by Reps. Jennifer Bacon and Chad Clifford, the legislation is rooted in the story of McKinzie Rees, a former officer who faced retaliation after reporting sexual assault by a colleague. The new version, shaped by discussions with whistleblowers, law enforcement, and legal experts, allows officers to pursue civil action if they experience retaliation for reporting misconduct.
Elizabeth Newman of the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault emphasized the urgency of the bill, noting that sexual assault is the second-most reported type of police misconduct. She highlighted that law enforcement’s male-dominated, hierarchical structure—with many unsupervised interactions—makes it especially vulnerable to abuse.
“Sexual violence thrives in systems with secrecy, power disparities, and a lack of oversight,” Newman said. “House Bill 1031 will reduce sexual violence and promote more safety for the public by giving stronger protections for reporting and increasing accountability.”