CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL NO. 978 (SB 978)

On January 1st of 2020, California Senate Bill 978 modified Penal Code section 13650.  P.C. 13650 now requires law enforcement agencies to post certain records on their websites.  The records listed in the statute are: all current standards, policies, practices, operating procedures, and education and training materials that would otherwise be available to the public if a request was made pursuant to the California Public Records Act.  The Palm Springs Police Department has complied these documents in our P.C. 13650 library.  Investigative, tactical, and security information has been redacted in accordance with existing law.

The statute requires that we post current records.  Whenever a record is modified, updated,  or replaced, the old record will be removed and replaced by the most current version.  Instructional materials will be removed when they are no longer taught by the department.

CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL NO. 1421 (SB 1421)

On September 30, 2018, Governor Edmund G. Brown approved SB 1421, officially amending Sections 832.7 and 832.8 of the California Penal Code as relating to the release of peace officer records. The intent of SB 1421 was to require release of specified peace officer personnel records in accordance with the California Public Records Act.

SB 1421 updated existing law to require the disclosure of records relating to reports, investigations, or findings relating to any of the following categories of records:

• An incident involving the discharge of a firearm at a person by a peace officer or custodial officer

• An incident in which the use of force by a peace officer or custodial officer against a person resulted in death, or in great bodily injury

• Any record relating to an incident in which a sustained finding was made by any law enforcement agency or oversight agency that a peace officer or custodial officer engaged in sexual assault involving a member of the public

• Any record relating to an incident in which a sustained finding was made by any law enforcement agency or oversight agency of dishonesty by a peace officer or custodial officer directly relating to the reporting, investigation, or prosecution of a crime, or directly relating to the reporting of, or investigation of misconduct by, another peace officer or custodial officer, including, but not limited to, any sustained finding of perjury, false statements, filing false reports, destruction, falsifying, or concealing of evidence.

SB 1421 also provides direction for the types of records or information which shall not be publicly disclosed as part of any release precipitated by amended language. Such direction is compulsory, and requires agencies which employ sworn peace officers or custodial officers to redact records in accordance with the direction provided.

NOTE : This portion of the site is currently under construction and cases are currently being uploaded for availability.