Assemblymember Rodriguez introduced two measures designed to strengthen public safety, increase transparency and improve the relationship between police officers and the communities they protect.
Assembly Bill 69 will require all law enforcement officers statewide to wear body cameras on duty.
Assembly Bill 71 will amend current reporting procedures for law enforcement and will require state law enforcement agencies to submit an annual report to the California Department of Justice on all shooting incidents where a peace officer is involved. The report would require statistics on shootings that result in the injury or death of an individual or a peace officer.
Currently law enforcement agencies are only required to report justifiable homicides. AB 71 reflects a national call to increase reporting data of officer involved shootings.
“It is important to have a sense of trust between the community and the police,” said Rodriguez. “Officers wearing body cameras will strengthen that trust, give the public insight into how officers do their jobs and make both the officer and the community safer.”
Rodriguez continued, “It is also clear that there is not sufficient data on officer involved shootings. My bill will increase transparency and accountability while also providing a clearer picture on how often officers are shot in the line of duty. I have been working closely on these bills with stakeholders, including administrative and line police and sheriff officers to find a comprehensive and cooperative way to improve police-community relations.”
Recognizing the benefits of body cameras, many law enforcement agencies across the country have begun purchasing cameras. This week, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that they will purchase 7,000 body cameras for their officers to use and President Obama has promised as much as $75 million dollars in federal grant funding to help agencies purchase cameras.
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Assemblymember Rodriguez represents the 52nd Assembly District which includes the cities of Chino, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona and portions of unincorporated Fontana.
CONTACT: Francisco Estrada, (916) 319-2052