Peace Officers Research Association of California

In the News

Comprehensive Use-of-Force Legislation

Today we join the California Police Chiefs Association in announcing the introduction of Comprehensive Use-of-Force Legislation, authored by Senator Anna Caballero, which presents a comprehensive package of changes to California’s use-of-force statutes, law enforcement agency policies, and training. Read More… Read More

PORAC Opposes the First Step Act

As longtime opponents to AB 109, Proposition 47 and 57, it would be inconsistent to now support a federal version of these bills. PORAC relayed our concerns to those involved in the crafting of this legislation and the advocates have taken some steps to improve the bill. Yet, a number of serious felonies, including violent crimes, are still eligible for early release. Read More

RIPA Advisory Board Oath of Office

PORAC President Elect Brian Marvel taking the oath of office for the RIPA Board. Second picture is Brian with Co-Chairs Pastor Ben McBride and Chief Ed Medrano along with Nancy Beninati from DOJ. Read More

Comments regarding Colin Kaepernick from PORAC President, Mike Durant

Colin Kaepernick sat down this weekend, something he has been doing with greater consistency since his breakout season. Mr. Kaepernick made headlines this time because he chose to take a seat during the playing of our national anthem. His protest was non-violent and completely within his rights, and we would protect him from those who […] Read More

FIREARMS LEGISLATION

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
AB 1135 (Levine) – Firearms: assault weapons.
 This bill redefines “assault weapon” to include a firearm with a detachable magazine that can be removed readily with the use of a tool.
 This bill requires that owners of these newly defined “assault weapons,” prior to January 1, 2017, to register the firearm online at DOJ. There will be a fee of up to, but no more than, $15 to register the firearm. Read More

Court of Appeal Affirms Constitutionality of Public-Sector Fact-Finding

  ROBERT WEXLER Partner Rains Lucia Stern, PC In 2011, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 646, which extended the provisions in the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA) for impasse resolution through advisory fact-finding to recognized public employee organizations. It left unanswered, however, the question of whether these fact-finding provisions applied to impasses over any […] Read More

LEGISLATIVE DAY on May 3rd

The annual Legislative Day at the State Capitol is an opportunity for PORAC’s leadership to meet and strategize with decision makers who support law enforcement issues and work on legislation important to PORAC and its members.       [shareprints gallery_id=”4945″ gallery_type=”blog” gallery_position=”pos_center” gallery_width=”width_100″ image_size=”large” image_padding=”4″ theme=”light” image_hover=”popout” lightbox_type=”slide” titles=”true” captions=”true” descriptions=”true” comments=”true” sharing=”true”] Read More

2016 CALIFORNIA MEMORIAL CEREMONY Honoring Our Fallen Heroes

On May 1 and 2, officers, families and law enforcement supporters from across the state gathered at the Capitol in Sacramento for the 40th annual California Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony. The solemn and moving event honored the four officrs killed in the line of duty in 2015 (plus one from a prior year), as well […] Read More

DODGING A BULLET

Friedrichs v. CTA and the Assault on Public Sector Unions in the Courts ROBERT BONSALL Partner Beeson Tayer & Bodine Corporate Counsel PORAC STEPHANIE PLATENKAMP Associate Beeson Tayer & Bodine   On March 29, 2016, the United States Supreme Court handed down a one-sentence decision in the most anticipated and important union-related case in decades, […] Read More

Reinstated (Again): Arbitrator Finds Grover Beach Officer Fit for Duty

ALISON BERRY WILKINSON Principal Attorney Berry Wilkinson Law Group   In an effort to avoid having to reinstate Santino “Sonny” Lopez after he successfully defeated his 2010 disciplinary termination, the Grover Beach Police Department ordered that he submit to a psychological fitness-for-duty examination before its handpicked “independent” expert. The finding from that retaliatory examination has […] Read More

PORAC Opposes H.R. 699 / E-Mail Privacy Act

On behalf of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (“PORAC”), the
nation’s largest statewide public safety association, representing over 66,000 members in
California and Nevada, I write to oppose H.R. 699, the “the Email Privacy Act,” which seeks to
update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (“ECPA”) for the digital age.

PORAC supports reforming ECPA and acknowledges the need for renewing this
outdated law, but H.R. 699 is not the answer. The ability to access electronic communications is
critical for law enforcement to ensure public safety efficiently and effectively. As written, H.R.
699 places an undue burden on law enforcement’s ability to gather digital evidence, providing Read More

Staying Strong Through Crisis

PORAC Member Spotlight San Bernardino Police Officers Association Incorporated in 1953, the same year as PORAC, the San Bernardino Police Officers Association (SBPOA) represents almost 200 members of the San Bernardino Police Department in the ranks of officer, detective and sergeant. Originally formed as a benevolent and social organization, the association evolved over time and […] Read More

Jury in Nieto trial finds SF cops did not use excessive force

SAN FRANCISCO>> Four San Francisco police officers did not use excessive force in 2014 when they shot and killed a man who allegedly pointed a stun gun at them that they mistook for a pistol, a federal jury found Thursday in a lawsuit filed by the man’s family.

The eight-member jury decided that the officers had not violated the constitutional rights of Alejandro “Alex” Nieto, a 27-year-old City College of San Francisco student and security guard, when they fired multiple shots at him in Bernal Heights Park. Read More

New PAC Reporting and Disclaimer Requirements

2016 Election Year Update New PAC Reporting and Disclaimer Requirements By Diane M. Fishburn, Lacey E. Keys and Emily A. Andrews Olson, Hagel & Fishburn LLP   Time for a PAC Checkup! As we begin to move swiftly through an election year, it is an opportune time to pause for a moment to give your […] Read More

2016 Annual Training Symposium

April 5–6  |  Reno, Nevada Symposium Topics: Incidents and Issues Affecting the Environment for Law Enforcement   Ferguson Debrief The events in Ferguson, Missouri, will forever change policing in the United States. Former CPOA President Rick Braziel has worked in Ferguson and St. Louis County for the past year as part of the team that […] Read More