When a doctor commits malpractice, they are personally liable. When a contractor acts with gross negligence, they pay for the damage. Yet we maintain a massive double standard for law enforcement.
Even when federal courts strip a rogue officer of qualified immunity for an egregious act — like the horrific shooting of a family’s friendly, 14-month-old puppy in Colorado — taxpayers are still forced to foot the multi-hundred-thousand-dollar settlement bills through municipal insurance pools. The officer keeps their paycheck, their job, and their badge, while our local communities drain public funds that should be going to infrastructure, schools and parks.
This is why I have drafted and sent a concrete statutory framework to my local representatives, Sen. David Hinkins and Rep. Mike Kohler. It is called the SEAN SUMMERS Act (Stop Entity Abuses & Negligence through Statewide Uninsured Misconduct Malpractice Escrow Retirement Safeguards).
This act introduces a common sense, market-driven solution: abolish taxpayer-funded bails for police misconduct and mandate individual professional malpractice insurance for every officer. Most importantly, it rewards the vast majority of excellent officers. All premiums paid into the policy sit in an escrow account; if an officer completes a clean career with zero civil claims, they get every dollar back as a massive retirement bonus. If they act like a cowboy, the victims are paid out of that officer’s personal asset pool.
It is time for Utah to lead the country in real fiscal responsibility and true law enforcement integrity.
Sean Summers, Heber City