STATE TAKES OVER SHOOTING PROBES
Beginning this month, the California Department of Justice will take on all investigations into fatal police shootings of unarmed citizens. Though law enforcement officials generally agree that the new process will increase transparency, others question the functionality of the law and whether or not the DOJ has the capacity to conduct timely investigations into qualifying incidents.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta released the initial guidelines and protocols for the implementation of Assembly Bill 1506 Wednesday — which went into effect July 1 — and announced the establishment of the California Police Shooting Investigation Teams, also
known as CAPSIT. One team will cover Northern California and another will cover Southern California.
“One of the most important tasks ahead for public safety and our society is building and maintaining trust between our communities and law enforcement,” Bonta said in a prepared statement. “Impartial, fair investigations and independent reviews of officer-involved shootings are one essential component for achieving that trust. Today, California is strengthening our state’s mechanisms for accountability and transparency in investigations of officer-involved shootings. These cases are never going to be easy, but the California Department of Justice will follow the facts and seek to ensure every Californian is afforded equal justice under the law.”
Reached by email Thursday afternoon, Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson raised concerns over the response time of state investigators.
“There were some initial logistical concerns within law enforcement circles — including the DOJ — about the functional