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State Sen. Steven Bradford likened the movement to “a tidal wave.” | Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via AP
California s police reform push remains challenging despite leftward shift
But they still have a tough road ahead.
An early legislative battle between Democrats offered a reminder of the issue’s thorny politics, even in a deep-blue state and cast a shadow on other policing bills, from a new duty-to-intercede standard to expanded misconduct disclosure requirements.
Moderate Democrats nearly blocked a closely watched officer decertification bill in a committee hearing last month, an open display of the power struggle between progressives and law enforcement-aligned moderate Democrats. That bill and nearly a dozen other reform proposals will test the power of a national reckoning that has gained momentum in the wake of George Floyd’s death last summer at the hands of Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer who was convicte
Senator Bradford and Pro Tem Atkins Introduce Police Decertification Bill
By Sentinel News Service
(Courtesy photo)
This week, Senator Bradford (D-Gardena) and Senate President pro Tempore Atkins (D-San Diego) introduced Senate Bill 2 to increase accountability for law enforcement officers that commit serious misconduct and illegally violate a person’s civil rights.
“The time is now to pass meaningful and common-sense police reform,” said Senator Steven Bradford. “California is able to revoke the certification or licenses of bad doctors, lawyers, teachers, and even barbers, but is unable to decertify police officers who have broken the law and violated the public trust. It’s time for California to join the majority of the nation and create a process to decertify bad officers. I look forward to working with Pro Tem Atkins, my colleagues, and all stakeholders to have this bill signed into law.”