California Bill That Would Change Police Deadly Force Policies Advances

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A bill which would classify when police can use deadly force, advanced in the state Senate today.

Assembly Bill 931 was introduced by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber shortly after the Stephon Clark shooting in March. She says the goal of the bill is to reduce the number of people killed by law enforcement across the state.

If the bill passes, law enforcement agencies across the state would have to re-evaluate policies around use of lethal force. Opponents of the bill say it would put communities at greater risk.

"I have been harassed by police pretty much all my life, since I was about 13," said Anthony Robles.

Now at 25, the L.A. native says he's still intimidated by police. Robles says he's had several run-ins with law enforcement over the years. He recalls one incident 10 years ago, where he says he was hassled by a police officer because he wouldn't go back into his home.

"He ended up saying 'why are you talking back to me,' grabbed me by my arm, twisted it behind my back," said Robles.

Robles believes AB931 could help repair decades of what he calls abuse on black and brown Californians.

"This is really a bill that begins to re-examine policing in California and updating our policing bill that's over 120 years old," Weber said.

Weber says law enforcement's priority should be to de-escalate a situation before it becomes deadly.

"We are saying they should use lethal force when there really is an imminent danger, that it's a necessity in order to prevent someone from being hurt or harmed," Weber added.

Her bill would update the state's standard for when law enforcement can use lethal force. An officer's conduct will also be taken into consideration under the bill, in determining whether lethal force is justified.

"Officers are trained over and over and over again, but what are they trained to do? And that becomes the question."

If the bill passes, Weber says law enforcement agencies can expect to see a reduction in the number of deadly shootings and a safer community.

The California Police Chiefs Association says it disagrees.

The president sent CBS13 a statement Tuesday, saying in part: "instead of criminalizing officers for their split-second decisions during emergency circumstances, we should find collaborative ways to reduce the number of officer-involved shootings through training and education."

The bill will head to the appropriations committee, and if it passes there, it will then head to the Senate floor.