First amendment policy
Policy 467 – First Amendment Assemblies
• SRPD respects the rights of people to peaceably assemble. • SRPD will not unreasonably interfere with, harass,
intimidate, or discriminate against persons engaged in the lawful exercise of their rights, while also preserving the peace, protecting life and preventing the destruction of property.
• Full policy available online.
New laws
• AB 48 – Clarifies when officers can use kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents in crowd control situations:
• Prohibits their use solely due to a violation of an imposed curfew, verbal threat, or noncompliance with a law enforcement directive. • Can only be used to disperse gatherings when the use is to defend against a threat to life or serious bodily injury or to bring an objectively dangerous and unlawful situation safely and effectively under control.
New laws
• SB 629 – Media access during First Amendment activities:
• If the immediate area surrounding any emergency field command post or any other command post, police line, or rolling closure at a demonstration, march, protest , or rally where individuals are engaged primarily in constitutionally protected activity is closed, media personnel shall be granted access
• Officers are prohibited from intentionally assaulting, interfering with, or obstructing a representative who is gathering, receiving, or processing information for communication to the public.
Questions?