Restore Civilian Oversight of Police Agencies: Support SB 1019 TODAY!

Submitted by erica gillingham on Sun, 06/03/2007 - 9:17pm.

For over 30 years, the ACLU of Northern California has championed independent public civilian oversight of police departments in Northern California. A recent California Supreme Court decision, Copley Press v. Superior Court, has shut out the public’s access to police records and hearings, effectively drawing a cloak of secrecy over police conduct.

Unlike similar records for other public employees, the public is now prevented by state law from learning about serious police misconduct and discipline issues.

Secrecy around police misconduct damages police-community relations, decreases public trust, and leads to unaccountable police departments.

We need to restore access to these police records. Join us in urging support for legislation to fix this problem.

Two bills were recently introduced in the California Legislature that would overturn the Copley Press decision and provide greater public access to police misconduct records: SB 1019, authored by Senator Gloria Romero, and AB 1648, authored by Assemblyman Mark Leno.

These bills would provide greater access to police records in the following ways:

  • Directly overturn Copley Press, and restore the limited public access to police complaint records and hearings that was in place before the court decision.
  • Provide greater public access to basic information about sustained cases involving police discipline, including the name and badge number of the officer, a summary of the facts, charges brought, and disciplinary action taken. Allow police chiefs to release internal documents supporting a department’s findings when outside agencies find an officers’ conduct violates police policy.
  • Make these records accessible under the California Public Records Act.

Greater openness will lead to increased police accountability and public trust, and promote public safety.

We need your help to restore police accountability. Get involved!

  • Letters/Calls to your Senators | Write a letter or call to your Senate representatives urging support for SB 1019.
  • Letter to the Editor | Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper on the Copley bills telling them why the passage of these bills and public access to police records is important to you.

Your support on these bills is key to increasing police accountability and public trust. Take action now!

 

The local ACLU Santa Cruz chapter has taken action by submitting a letter of support to Senator Joe Simitian urging him to vote YES on SB 1019!

For a list of talking points on SB 1019 please click here and for a partial list of organizations that have endorsed SB 1019 please visit the ACLU of Northern California call to action .

 

 


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