Frequently, members of the community often ask us what they can do to help with legislation that affects law enforcement. In some cases, some legislative efforts also affect the members of our community, such as SB 230 and AB 392.

Support SB 230

Please join the Monterey County Deputy Sheriff's Association and the Peace Officers Research Association of California, in Supporting Senate Bill 230. This bill is a comprehensive way of providing the tools, training, and standards that allow law enforcement to produce the best results possible under what can be difficult circumstances.

Under SB 230, California will raise the national standard to protect the sanctity of life by:

1. Setting a clear and enforceable standard for authorizing the use of force. The bill will raise the standard for authorizing the use of force to circumstances where "the suspect poses an imminent threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others or when a fleeing suspect has committed a forcible and atrocious felony" - a clear and objective standard.
2. Providing law enforcement with the tools and resources needed to minimize the use of force. SB 230 will build on California's rigorous officer training requirements by establishing standardized use of force training across critical subjects, including de-escalation, rendering medical aid, interacting with vulnerable populations and the new legal standards for the use of force.
3. Mandating that every department adopt comprehensive policies in all of 13 categories viewed as best practices for preventing the use of force, including de-escalation, an officer's duty to intercede and reporting requirements.

SB 230 is an evidence-based approach that:

1. Includes extensive input from communities across California, including non-profits, businesses, neighborhood groups, individuals and public safety organizations, as well as the 18 democratic legislators who authored and co-authored the bill.
2. Focuses on adopting and expanding upon nationally - recognized best practices for minimizing the use of force by creating rigorous policing standards, policies, practices, training and reporting requirements - areas that have effectively and significantly reduced the use of force complaints in other cities and states.
3. Aligns with the Attorney General's recommendations as outlined in the January 29, 2019 California Department of Justice (DOJ) report on use of force, including: connecting the sanctity of human life with use of force policies, requiring annual use of force training, expanding outreach and community involvement and working towards greater transparency by making all use of force policies publicly available.

AB 392 threatens the safety of our families, communities, and officers. California's police officers take an oath that they will run towards danger when everyone else is running away—and they do so willingly to protect our families and communities. This dangerous bill would have a chilling effect on the men and women in uniform by undermining their ability to respond to life-or-death situations.

Oppose AB 392

This year, anti-police groups are pushing AB 392, intent on changing the use of force standards set by the U.S. Supreme Court and reflected in Graham v. Connor (1989).

AB 392 is proposed as an alternative to SB 230. However, AB 392 fails to include any proactive measures to reduce the use of force. Instead, AB 392:

1. Creates a muddy and subjective standard for evaluating officers. It mandates that hindsight is used to hold officers criminally liable for using force when responding to life-or-death situations.
2. Maintains the status quo for the use of force policies and training. AB 392 does not, in any way, change the use of force policing policies, training or guidelines. The bill does not provide any additional funding for training - the foundation for minimizing the use of force - nor does it put in place even one proactive measure to reduce the use of force.
3. Threatens the safety of our families, communities, and officers. California's police officers take an oath that they will run towards danger when everyone else is running away - and they do so willingly to protect our families and communities. This dangerous bill would have a chilling effect on the men and women in uniform by undermining their ability to respond to life-or-death situations.
4. Aims to criminalize police officers, creating a disastrous disincentive to joining California law enforcement. Current peace officers will retire early; future peace officers will choose a different career. Those left in the field will have no choice but to minimize their personal risk, resulting in less safety and greater threats to communities.

How You Can Help Your Peace Officers

1. Use the templates below to show your support and opposition, and send it to your state legislatures. You can find their contact information, as well as send them a direct message by clicking here.
2. Encourage others in the community to call and write their state legislators and ask them to support SB-230 and oppose AB-392.
3. Share this blog post with others on social media and through emails.

Together, We Can Work Towards Safer Communities

By showing your support for SB-230, you are helping all of California's law enforcement agencies and officers in keeping their respective communities safe.

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