Black Leadership Council Calls For Change In Stockton Police Shooting Procedures

STOCKTON (CBS13) — After several recent Stockton officer-involved shootings, members of the Black Leadership Council called the city manager and police chief in for a townhall meeting. The council gave a list of procedures it believes police should follow after involvement in a civilian death.

"Police are carrying guns and are killing people at a rate that's unbelievable," said Black Leadership Council president, Ralph Lee White.

White, a former city councilman, said officers should have a psychological examination immediately before returning to work on the force. Stockton Police said it does have such a policy in place. After an officer-involved death, the officer is placed on at least three days paid-administrative leave and a city contracted psychologist must clear him or her to return to duty.

White argues the psychologist should be chosen at random for each incident.

"You don't use the same psychiatrist that'll put him right back to work."

The Black Leadership Council also wants any officer involved in two or more deaths to be reassigned.

"Put him in the office," said White. "It's obvious he has a problem."

If White's proposal gets approved, several Stockton officers would have to be pulled from patrol. Stockton Police said in the last five years, seven officers have been involved in two or more deaths.

In another procedure proposed, the council wants officers to submit to blood and urine tests immediately after a shooting incident. This procedure could fall under the District Attorney's investigation of the shooting. Deputy District Attorney Robert Himmelblau said the DA's Office doesn't have a written protocol for officer-involved deaths, because each death has different circumstances. Himmelblau said there is a document written in 1994 called the Memorandum of Understanding. It's a cooperative agreement amongst all of the local law enforcements in San Joaquin County that allows the DA investigators to do their own independent investigation simultaneously of the officer-involved death.

Adding a mandatory blood and urine test to the Memorandum of Understanding would have to be unanimously approved by all police chiefs, sheriff, and highway patrols.

"Three people don't have to take drug tests: the DA, judges, and law enforcement," argued White.
"And all three can send you to the penitentiary."

White added that the city council has the power from the city charter to question police procedures.