Legal Research

California Panel Kills Bill To Make Police Disciplinary Records Public

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: Crime and Justice News, June 25, 2008.

"Despite lobbying by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a California legislative committee killed a bill that would have cleared the way for the Los Angeles Police Department to make officers' disciplinary hearings and records open to the public, reports the Los Angeles Times. The bill faced stiff opposition from many powerful police unions, which argued that it would compromise officer safety. Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, normally a Villaraigosa ally, chose not to take a position on the bill and expressed concerns about it."

"Tim Sands, president of the Police Protective League, which represents 9,300 Los Angeles rank-and-file officers, said he was pleased that 'this bad piece of legislation was stopped.' He reiterated the union's stance that the department's discipline system allows sufficient civilian oversight. Villaraigosa called the bill's death 'an outrage.' " 

Los Angeles Times

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on June 25, 2008 (boomark / email).