DUDLEY - Dudley Police Chief Steven Wojnar has a powerful message.
Chief Wojnar says if he could change one stereotype about police officers, it would be this: "We're not racist murderers. It's frustrating to hear people have such a negative connotation just because of the uniform you put on."
The Chief says there has been a negative perception of policing for quite some time now, and it's had an impact on people. He says if you're an individual considering a job in law enforcement, it can absolute be a challenge.
This week, the Massachusetts Senate passed a Police Reform bill which would ban certain tactics used by police and limited qualified immunity. It's in an effort to hold officers accountable for their actions.
Chief Wojnar says removing protections for people doing the job could cause hesitancy by people, and make them wonder if they will be held personally liable for taking a job and doing what they are trained to do.
Several central Massachusetts police chiefs say the bill was rushed and quickly put together, but community groups in support of change say they're happy to see the wheels turning.
Em Quiles, president of the Pa'Lante Latinx Moving Forward, says one of the things her organization has advocated for is more transparency between the police department and the community.
She says while she supports getting rid of qualified immunity, she does not want standards for police officers to loosen.
"If you're considering applying to be a police officer and you're afraid that you might be held liable for brutalizing our community, then I'm glad that causes pause in certain people," Quiles said.
Chief Wojnar argues these changes could negatively affect how officers and other first responders perform their duties.
Many community groups in support of change have suggested police wear body cameras as a way to create transparency. But as police executives explain, body camera programs and community engagement programs cost money, and would be the first to go in police budgets are scaled back.