Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
California Bill To Strip Badges From 'Bad Officers' Fails
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
September 1, 2020

Share

SACRAMENTO — A bill that would allow “bad officers” to be permanently stripped of their badges failed to pass the California Legislature on Monday as state lawmakers could not muster enough support to pass one of the year’s top policing reform bills.

The measure would have created a way to decertify officers found to have committed serious misconduct. The bill got a late boost from celebrity Kim Kardashian West, who tweeted that the measure is needed so officers are held accountable if they break the law.

The measure would have created a way to decertify officers found to have committed serious misconduct. The bill got a late boost from celebrity Kim Kardashian West, who tweeted that the measure is needed so officers are held accountable if they break the law.

But the bill could not overcome vehement objections from law enforcement organizations that the proposed system is biased and lacks basic due process protections. Five states currently have no way of decertifying poor police officers — California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The bill failed despite the extraordinary momentum created by months of anger and nationwide protests following the death in May of George Floyd while he was being detained by Minneapolis police. Protests again have flared over the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

But other proposals did pass the Legislature on the final day of the 2020 session. Lawmakers approved a bill that would ban police officers from using choke holds and carotid holds. A choke hold applies pressure to a person’s windpipe while a carotid hold applies pressure to a person’s carotid artery, which slows the flow of blood to the brain. Gov. Gavin Newsom has pledged to sign that bill.

Lawmakers also approved a bill to require the state Attorney General to investigate every time police kill an unarmed civilian.

“We have too much distrust with the police policing themselves,” said Democratic Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, who authored the bill.

Journalists Would Be Cleared To Go Behind Police Lines During California Protests

The Legislature separately sent another Bradford bill to Gov. Gavin Newsom that would require youths under 18 to consult with an attorney before they could waive their Miranda rights. Current law has that protection for youths through age 15.

Bradford said the bill “helps build trust in law enforcement and our criminal justice system, something we badly need right now.”

Bradford said the bill “helps build trust in law enforcement and our criminal justice system, something we badly need right now.”

Journalists would be cleared to go behind police lines during California protests and demonstrations under other legislation on its way to the governor. The legislation would also prohibit police officers from “intentionally assaulting, interfering with, or obstructing” or citing a member of the press.

Lawmakers also gave final approval to a bill that would make it clear that supervisors have the power to create oversight boards and inspectors general with subpoena powers over independently elected county sheriffs.

They sent Newsom a bill barring law enforcement officers in most cases from wearing camouflage uniforms or those similar to military uniforms. Democrat Sen. Bob Archuleta said civilians might confuse police with members of the National Guard during protests.

But lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have made public disciplinary records against police officers accused of racist or discriminatory actions, or those who have a history of wrongful arrests or searches, among others. That bill passed the Assembly, but the state Senate did not vote on it before the deadline at midnight on Monday.

The Senate was delayed by more than an hour over a procedural spat between Democrats who control the chamber and Republicans, most of whom were forced to vote remotely after one tested positive for the coronavirus and possibly exposed his colleagues. Wary of running out of time, Democrats voted earlier in the night to limit debate on bills. Republicans were furious, invoking their own parliamentary maneuver to further delay consideration of non-controversial bills.

Lawmakers from both sides eventually resolved their dispute after a lengthy delay.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Fresno Authorities Search for Domestic Violence Suspect Considered Armed and Dangerous

DON'T MISS

NBA Memo to Players Warns About Organized Home Break-Ins

DON'T MISS

Fresno School Employees Say District’s Job Shifts Endanger Kids and Staff

DON'T MISS

Assemblymember Arambula Says He’ll Run for Fresno City Council

DON'T MISS

Business, Environmental Interests Oppose South Fresno Industrial Plan. What’s Next?

DON'T MISS

Take a Bow, Bulldog Football Fans. Some Power 4 Schools Would Love to Have You.

DON'T MISS

Community Hospital CEO Craig Castro Will Retire in Early 2025

DON'T MISS

Conor McGregor Must Pay Woman $250K in Sexual Assault Case, Civil Jury Rules

DON'T MISS

Judge Delays Trump Hush Money Sentencing in Order to Decide Where Case Should Go Now

DON'T MISS

Trump Gave Interior Nominee One Directive for a Half-Billion Acres of US Land: ‘Drill’

UP NEXT

Newsom Gaslights on Potential Gas Price Hikes in Fresno Visit

UP NEXT

What Will Happen to CNBC and MSNBC When They No Longer Have a Corporate Connection to NBC News?

UP NEXT

Major Storm Drops Record Rain, Downs Trees in Northern California After Devastation Further North

UP NEXT

Newsom Heads to Fresno, a County That Voted for Trump

UP NEXT

Conservative Professors and Students Are Beating CA Community Colleges in Court

UP NEXT

Thousands of University of California Workers Go on 2-Day Strike Over Wages, Staff Shortages

UP NEXT

Gavin Newsom Pledged to Release His Tax Returns Every Year. The Last One Was for 2020.

UP NEXT

California Governor Will Not Make Clemency Decision for Menendez Brothers Until New DA Reviews Case

UP NEXT

Fewer Kids Are Going to California Public Schools. Is There a Right Way to Close Campuses?

UP NEXT

California Voters Reject Measure That Would Have Raised Minimum Wage to Nation-High $18 Per Hour

Assemblymember Arambula Says He’ll Run for Fresno City Council

41 minutes ago

Business, Environmental Interests Oppose South Fresno Industrial Plan. What’s Next?

1 hour ago

Take a Bow, Bulldog Football Fans. Some Power 4 Schools Would Love to Have You.

2 hours ago

Community Hospital CEO Craig Castro Will Retire in Early 2025

3 hours ago

Conor McGregor Must Pay Woman $250K in Sexual Assault Case, Civil Jury Rules

3 hours ago

Judge Delays Trump Hush Money Sentencing in Order to Decide Where Case Should Go Now

3 hours ago

Trump Gave Interior Nominee One Directive for a Half-Billion Acres of US Land: ‘Drill’

3 hours ago

Fresno State Gets $500K Grant for Students Facing Homelessness

3 hours ago

NATO and Ukraine to Hold Emergency Talks After Russia’s Attack With New Hypersonic Missile

3 hours ago

Many in Gaza Are Eating Just Once a Day, as Hunger Spreads Amid Aid Issues

3 hours ago

Fresno Authorities Search for Domestic Violence Suspect Considered Armed and Dangerous

Authorities are searching for a 43-year-old man wanted on domestic violence charges in Fresno County. Related Story: Woman Found Dead in Fre...

7 minutes ago

Fresno County authorities are searching for Ray Weston McCall Jr., 43, wanted on domestic violence charges, and caution the public not to approach him. (Fresno County SO)
7 minutes ago

Fresno Authorities Search for Domestic Violence Suspect Considered Armed and Dangerous

13 minutes ago

NBA Memo to Players Warns About Organized Home Break-Ins

16 minutes ago

Fresno School Employees Say District’s Job Shifts Endanger Kids and Staff

41 minutes ago

Assemblymember Arambula Says He’ll Run for Fresno City Council

1 hour ago

Business, Environmental Interests Oppose South Fresno Industrial Plan. What’s Next?

2 hours ago

Take a Bow, Bulldog Football Fans. Some Power 4 Schools Would Love to Have You.

3 hours ago

Community Hospital CEO Craig Castro Will Retire in Early 2025

3 hours ago

Conor McGregor Must Pay Woman $250K in Sexual Assault Case, Civil Jury Rules

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend