HomeMy WebLinkAboutSB 388 LTR to Lieu 20130506ing)^� City Of sAn luis oBi
SPO
OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
�So 990 Palm Street ■ San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 ■ 805/781-7119
May 6, 2013
VIA FACSIMILE ONLY 916-323-6056
The Honorable Ted W. Lieu
California State Senate
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: SB 388. Public Safety Officers and Firefighters: Investigations and Interrogations
(As Amended 41812013)
NOTICE OF OPPOSITION
Dear Senator Lieu:
The City of San Luis Obispo is opposed to your SB 388, which would extend the
protections of the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act to peace officers under
interrogation and the protections of the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act to firefighters
under interrogation, even when they are not under investigation.
SB 388 would allow an individual peace officer or firefighter to shut down M inquiry
that may touch on his or her conduct in its initial stages, by invoking the protections of the
applicable Procedural Bill of Rights. It significantly expands the procedural rights of peace
officers and firefighters. Its unintended effect may be to frustrate nearly any internal
departmental investigation; as written, SB 388 could apply to aM inquiry made by departmental
management of a peace officer or firefighter, effectively shutting down an investigation before it
can begin.
The overwhelming majority of our city firefighters and peace officers perform
exceptionally, often at great risk to their own lives. When it is necessary to launch inquiries or
investigations that may lead to disciplinary action, reasonable procedural protections are already
in place. This measure will frustrate legitimate internal departmental investigations and could
potentially promote misconduct by preventing its discovery through established means.
For these reasons, the City of San Luis Obispo opposes SB 388.
Sincerely,
J n Marx
ayor
cc: City Council
Katie Lichtig, City Manager
Steve Gesell, Police Chief
Senator Bill Monning, fax 916-445-8081
Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian, fax 916-319-2135
Natasha Karl, League of CA Cities, nkarl@cacities.org
David Mullinax, League of CA Cities, dmullinax cr cacities.org