Consent Item 4c
STAFF REPORT
City Council Consent Item
DATE: March 6, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Casey J. Day, Chief of Police
THROUGH: Merritt Perry, City Manager
SUBJECT: Publicly Opposing California Assembly Bill 742 by Resolution 2023-06 STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Pass a resolution of the City Council of the City of Fortuna publicly opposing California Assembly Bill 742.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On February 13, 2023, Assemblyman Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) introduced California Assembly Bill 742. If adopted, this legislation would prohibit the use of police K-9 units for apprehension and crowd control, as specified by the bill.
Police K-9 units are an important non-lethal force option and an effective de-escalation tool. If K9 units are eliminated as a force option for police, California law enforcement agencies will lose an important de-escalation tool and further prevent police from using effective methodologies, which help maintain law and order in situations that require the use of necessary force options.
K-9 units are deployed in situations, which limit risk and danger to their human counterparts. K9’s are also the only remaining force option which can be “re-called” or “called off” after being deployed but prior to an apprehension. Academic studies have also offered suggestive evidence of the crime deterrent benefit, which exists from the mere presence of our canines.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Approve Resolution 2023-06. Consent agenda vote.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution 2023-06, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fortuna opposing proposed California Assembly Bill 742, which if passed, would remove the ability of California law enforcement organizations to utilize Police K-9’s as a non-lethal force option