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Gov. Brown signs bill, makes officer misconduct records public

October 2, 2018

Gov. Jerry Brown

Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill on Sunday making certain police misconduct records public. This opens up officer misconduct records to attorneys, the media and members of the public in 2019. [Cal Coast Times]

Current law designates all peace officer or custodial officer personnel records as confidential and prohibits the disclosure of those records in any criminal or civil proceeding, except by discovery.

Senate Bill 1421, from Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, allows the public to access officer misconduct records in most cases. In certain cases where the release of records would result in an unwarranted invasion of privacy, the records can be withheld.

In addition, during active investigations, the release of records can be delayed.

“When incidents such as a police shooting occurs, the public has a right to know that there was a thorough investigation,” Skinner said in a statement. “Without access to such records, communities can’t hold our public safety agencies accountable.”


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Good Job Gov’! it’s time we take back our streets from corrupt and criminal cops! Good ones, and they know who they are, won’t even flinch at this bill as it won’t impact them one bit, it’s the dirty ones who’ll have something to think about.


-2

My hope is the “Good Ones” as you put it, maybe will flinch at least when it comes to putting out the blue shield when it comes to getting rid of the bad ones. When a story does actually make it out about a bad one we never hear you “Good Ones” speak up and out about the bad ones, all part of the code and maybe this bill will give them so thought, but probably not.


1

There are “good ones”, believe me there is. I just wonder if either of us would do it any differently if in their shoes? Would we be any less susceptible to criminal activity up to and including not crossing that “thin blue line”? I don’t know ‘nut, it would be awfully difficult if your whole life revolved around bein’ a cop, your families life intertwined with that “culture”, the absolute stigma and outright danger for turnin’ on your “brothers and sisters”, I don’t know….


-2

We do know, they don’t cross the blue line, even if it is the wrong thing to do they still do it. That questions whether they are really a “good one” then.


1

Nope, not all of them do, but some do and they often pay a very steep price for crossing that line. That’s all I’m sayin’, that and if you or I would do any different if in the same position, that’s all. If one doesn’t cross that line when the opportunity arises? Of course he or she is bad, shouldn’t have a badge and should be prosecuted, period.


0

It looks like Ms. Skinner needed to write a law to look like she was doing something about complaints related to deaths at the hands of police officers. In fact the law doesn’t provide any access to information that couldn’t already be accessed either by the media, thanks to a 2014 California Supreme Court decision, or through the discovery process during criminal or civil court proceedings.

The only thing the new requirement will do is create more clerical jobs in police departments, since someone will be tasked with processing public records act requests, should this law trigger an increase in requests for information.

Actually, for a democrat law maker this is a win/win. Look like you are holding cops accountable in some new way, while creating more government jobs… Score!!


4

Bad decision. Many allegations against police officer’s are false. This will open the door for every dirt bag attorney and way out liberal to clog the system and sue we the taxpayers for anything that they think is not liberal. So, do you want to be a police officer and work in an area where the people hate you and then have just been given an avenue to harass the hell out of you?


1

First, accountability of government officials isn’t “liberal” or big-government, it’s the exact opposite. Second, the free market dictates that you don’t have to work in an area where people hate you. If you don’t like it, get a different job. It’s the exact same kind of advice you would likely give a gay person who complains about harassing jokes on the job, isn’t it? And I would actually support that advice. Third, I know that it’s way easier to have an opinion without bothering to be informed first, but it takes all of 5 minutes to read through the bill and understand that it only applies to SUSTAINED allegations, and the allegations included are very limited in scope. Essentially, the bill does nothing, because allegations of the nature described in the bill are basically limited to criminal convictions, which are already a matter of public record.


6

On this one, I support Brown 100%. All records should be public knowledge. No one is above the law – particularly the law itself.

But don’t ask me about the ‘bullet’ train that will run from nowhere to no place. On that one, Brown is 100% wrong.


8

This is going to be scary! On his way out he will be doing things he was hesitant to do when he was in office. OMG! what else can this man do to Single-handedly destroy this state as a productive state. Yes it has one of the largest economies in the world. Move it inland away from the coast and it would not even place as a 3rd world economy.


6

Good thing you are in a legal state as that chronic is making you paranoid.

Every elected official does things differently when they are not facing reelection.

“Single-handedly destroy this state” How does “making officer misconduct records public” destroy anything other than corrupt cops reputations?

“Move it inland away ” Your fantasy is just that and also is a pointless exercise.

You are scaring yourself for no reason, perhaps change strains.


-1

Do you know what the #1 expense for nearly every municipal government in the state is? (In SLO it’s 45% of the budget). Out of control public safety salaries. I love how people complain about government overspending and taxing and then blindly support law enforcement.


7