CommentsRANTZ & RAVEZ-If you thought police recruitment and retention of police personnel were facing challenging times, wait until the newly proposed law by anti-police California legislators takes effect in our state.
It will mandate a change in the ability of police officers to defend and protect themselves against a person with a gun, knife or other deadly weapon. In addition, there are other proposed laws that are expected to weaken the already crumbling Criminal Justice System in the Homeless Wasteland that was once the proud State of California.
California State Assembly members Shirley Weber of San Diego and Kevin McCarty of Sacramento have proposed establishing new restrictions that require a police officer confronting a shooting situation use “Necessary Force”rather than the long-standing rule of “Reasonable Force”when resorting to deadly force. This controversial measure was proposed after the recent shooting death of fleeing suspect Stephon Clark, a resident of Sacramento.
Many Police Officers are already apprehensive about their contact with suspects and are becoming more concerned about the consequences of encountering individuals who refuse to comply with their directions or orders. Society does not find fault with suspects who challenge, fight or attack police officers who are doing the difficult job of “Protecting and Serving” members of the public who call 911 in time of need. It is usually the officers who are negatively judged by the media and many members of the community who condemn them for their actions and use of force.
While many police departments across America are now employing body cameras to document and justify the actions of officers, this does not appear enough for the anti-police loud mouth critics across America who continually condemn police officers for using physical tactics with combative suspects.
When members of society test to become police officers with a desire to “Protect and Serve,” their motivation must be honest in their mission of saving lives, protecting property and apprehending those that commit crime.
The most recent statistics of Law Enforcement Officer fatalities on a national level reveal that there is a +67% increase in firearm related fatalities to officers as of October 10, 2018. California Legislators should be directing their energy to providing protection for the taxpayers rather than further crippling police officers from doing the job of public safety.
The many challenges of police officers enforcing the law have been and are continually being diluted by the passage of various laws like AB 109, a 2011 law that eliminated the return to prison for parole violators. Prop 47 is a 2014 initiative that reduced a host of felonies to misdemeanors and has been cited as a contributing factor for the massive surge in serial thefts and overall rise in statewide crime. Prop 57 is a 2016 initiative that duped the public into believing that non-violent offenders would be released from prison. In fact, many violent individuals have been returned to communities to commit additional crimes of violence.
(Dennis P. Zine is a former and retired LAPD Supervisor, former and retired 12-year Los Angeles City Councilman and current General Manager at Bell Canyon in Ventura County. He is a candidate for the upcoming Assembly District 45 election.) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
