Bill to Give Law Enforcement Agencies Option To Give Officer Termination Specifics Signed By Newsom
A bill that allows for law enforcement agencies to announce that an officer was terminated for cause, was signed into law by Governor Newsom earlier this week.
Senate Bill 400, authored by Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), will specifically clarify that the current law stating the personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers are confidential and not subject to public inspection will no longer cover termination for cause. The new confidentiality will not prohibit an agency that formerly employed a peace officer or custodial officer from disclosing the termination for cause of that officer.
Wahab wrote the bill in conjunction with the San Jose Police Department last year in response to a highly scrutinized situation in which they terminated an officer for engaging in an inappropriate sexual act while on the job. While the Department had been willing to fully disclose why the officer had been let go, they had been held back by the law until a public records request was launched.
“In this session I am very proud to push laws that reform and support our efforts for transparency and accountability in law enforcement, and appreciate the support from law enforcement groups,” said Wahab of the bill.