Newsom signs police reform bill to banish bad cops

Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed four bills into law aimed at police reform, including one that creates a process for decertifying officers who engage in misconduct, preventing them from moving to another agency.

The law sets up an advisory committee that will review misconduct cases and make recommendations to the state Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, which could then suspend or revoke officers’ certifications.

Senate Bill 2 was co-authored by State Sens. Steven Bradford, D-Gardena and Toni G. Atkins, D-San Diego. The wrongdoing would include excessive force, sexual assault, making a false arrest, being part of a law enforcement gang or showing bias based on race religion or gender.

California became the 47th state to create a process to banish problem officers as Newsom signed the bill into law during a news conference at Rowley Park in Gardena.

“I’m here as governor mindful that we are in the juxtaposition of being a leader on police reform and a laggard on police reform,” Newsom said. “We have a lot to be proud of, but there are areas where we have nothing to brag about. California has asserted itself in certain areas, but it’s remarkable that we still struggle in other areas.”

Bradford said the bill was inspired by the fatal shooting of Kenneth Ross Jr., who was killed at Rowley Park in April 2018.

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