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CA DOJ finds Sac PD's use of force policies 'outdated,' suggests 49 ways to improve

An assessment requested by Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg found their police department's use of force policies to be outdated.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A report from the California Department of Justice may have Sacramento police revisiting their use of force policies.

Following the fatal shooting of Stephon Clark in March, the California Department of Justice independently assessed Sacramento Police Department's use of force policies, training, and practices.

It was a move requested by Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg.

While the report did praise Sacramento police for their professionalism and commitment to change, it also claimed their use of force policies were "outdated," their internal investigations and training for use of force lacked standardization and rigor, and that there was a lack of systemic information collection and accountability measures.

In total, the DOJ recommended 49 improvements among six different areas.

"Today's report addresses six specific areas: Use of force priorities, use of force reporting and investigation, use of force training, past officer involved shooting incidents, personnel complaint procedures, community engagement and transparency," addressed CA Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

Among the 49 are recommendations to:

  • Identify the nature and extent of use of force information the department releases to the public
  • Consider an outside agency for a role in future use of force investigations and SPD improvements around serious use of force
  • Guidelines for selecting training instructors with prior performance history being a significant factor for selection
  • Require a specialized force investigation team or Internal Affairs division to investigate every Officer-involved shooting 
  • Training should prepare officers to encounter and detain people in a way that decreases the need for deadly force applications
  • Consistently release information on use of force and other related topics
  • Re-assess and require annual use of force training, emphasizing critical decision making skills

While many recommendations were made, the report did highlight efforts from SPD that were promising like their foot pursuit policy, body camera policy, and their efforts with use of force statistics showing transparency.

Becerra also said his team reviewed 18 officer-involved shootings and spent countless hours touring training facilities and going on numerous ride-alongs with officers.  

The assessment from the DOJ is only the first phase. Assessments for a second a final phase are already underway to cover a sample of non-deadly use of force incidents, a sample of misconduct complaints, the discipline system, prevention of bias, recruitment and hiring, and data management.

Hahn says he invited Becerra to examine his agency, as it continues to look for ways to be a leader in law enforcement and set an example of transparency. He added, "This review is totally separate from the criminal investigation."

Becerra said the team that reviewed the department's policies and practices has a "firewall" between the team conducting the criminal investigation. 

"The team reviewing all the information related to the Stephon Clark incident is still moving forward," Becerra explained.

He clarified that the information from the Stephon Clark case was not used in the report released Tuesday because that investigation is still ongoing. 

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