Five Memphis police officers, knowing their body cameras were recording their actions, went ahead last month and fatally beat and stomped a 29-year-old Black man. That must mean they had no fear of consequences for themselves. It means they felt free to behave like a gang of bloodthirsty bullies, not enforcers of the law.

The cops’ attitudes, now seen on video by millions, reveal an important truth about police accountability and the recent laws that have been unpopular with police unions and their supporters. Not only were the accountability laws, like Connecticut’s, warranted. They are not the whole answer.

In July 2020 the legislature passed and the governor signed into law a bill prompted by the deaths of George Floyd and other Black people at the hands of sworn officers. The incidents sparked Black Lives Matter protests and calls for “defunding the police.” Although the killings did not take place in Connecticut, the bill’s sponsors noted the loss of trust across the country. They sought to reestablish trust in policing here.

Connecticut’s Police Accountability Act created a new office of inspector general to investigate deadly use-of-force cases. It codified limits in which deadly use of force can be justified and allowed more civilian oversight. Most controversially among police officers, it potentially lessened their liability protection, allowing people to file civil suits against individual officers if their constitutional rights may have been violated in ways deemed “malicious, wanton or willful.”

For the second consecutive session, Republicans are urging revisions to the law. Some want to rescind limits placed on officers’ ability to search a motor vehicle during routine traffic stops. Others would amend restrictions on use of force, make it harder for officers to lose certification, or allow appeal of a denial of a governmental immunity defense.

Lawmakers mostly framed their proposals before the death of Tyre Nichols -- after a traffic stop -- in Memphis became common knowledge and before video shocked Americans again with the sight of unchecked police brutality. But even with expressions of condemnation for the Memphis officers, they are standing by proposals to lessen the law’s impact on police officers.

Yes, the majority of officers are dedicated public servants ready to risk their lives for the rest of us. The Day would like to believe state Rep. Greg Howard, a Stonington Republican and a police detective, that “nowhere in (Connecticut)” would an incident like Nichols’ “tragic and unnecessary” death “be seen as acceptable, nor if committed by a police officer without swift action against the officer(s) responsible.” But that is an opinion, not a knowable fact. And swift action is action too late for the victim.

Without accountability, it is not law enforcement. It is abuse of authority. It is responding officers making themselves into judge, jury and executioner. Accountability must be preventative or it serves only as cold comfort for a grieving family.

What happened to Tyre Nichol sinks to a level of depravity that requires facing the fact that those now accused of second-degree murder were unafraid of consequences of transparency. Their recorded comments make it clear that Nichols was doomed.

In Connecticut, the majority Democrats will likely block the proposals of the minority Republicans from reaching the floor, where there could be frank debate about whether the police accountability law is too severe on officers or not sweeping enough to ensure public safety. Failing that, the existing law will stay on the books with more time to see how well it works.

What could improve the law is added emphasis on community policing -- not just because it benefits the people who live there but because it fosters better judgment from officers.

If the law’s critics are right that one reason for the current shortage of cops is that some have quit because of it, increased accountability may already be making a difference. Applicants know what is expected of them under the new law, and their willingness to work within it suggests they will make solid colleagues for the majority of dedicated police already on the job.

The Day editorial board meets with political, business and community leaders to formulate editorial viewpoints. It is composed of President and Publisher Timothy Dwyer, Executive Editor Izaskun E. Larraneta, Owen Poole, copy editor, and Lisa McGinley, retired deputy managing editor. The board operates independently from The Day newsroom.