HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A new Alabama law expanding legal protections for police officers took effect Wednesday, drawing mixed reactions from law enforcement and legal advocates about accountability and access to civil remedies.
House Bill 202, known as the “Back the Blue” law, is among several pieces of legislation taking effect, including measures to legally redefine gender, require cardiac arrest response protocols in schools and address immigration enforcement.
The law grants law enforcement officers expanded immunity from criminal and civil lawsuits when their actions align with department policy and state law. It defines officers’ scope of duty, requires agencies to track use-of-force complaints and applies only to future incidents…