Let’s talk about California’s new police deadly force law, which is supposed to go into effect next month. This law was designed to stop the police from killing people - but there’s a secret behind-the-scenes strategy that could stop it from doing anything at all. A thread.(1/x)
The law is called AB 392 or “The Act to Save Lives.” It was written to change California’s deadly force standard from allowing police to shoot people when “reasonable” to now restrict it to only happen when “necessary” after ALL AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVES have been EXHAUSTED. But...
Law enforcement groups lobbied heavily to remove the definition of “necessary.” So “necessary” will be defined by whoever writes each police department’s use of force policy (at least until courts rule on this but we don’t know if or when that’ll even happen or what they’ll say).
And it turns out there’s one group that writes 95% of all police department use of force policies in California - a group of former police officers called Lexipol. And they were the ones lobbying to stop the legislation in the first place:
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So if you live in California, your city most likely is paying this group of former police to write the policy that will determine when the police can shoot or use other forms of force against you. And they’ll probably write the new policy to undermine the entire spirit of AB392.
They lobbied to remove the definition of necessary for a reason. Police depts with policies requiring officers exhaust all alternatives before shooting are 25% less likely to kill people (useofforceproject.org ) “Necessary” standards with no definition don’t have that impact.
It’s clear why that language is so important. In 84% of police shootings in CA the police don’t attempt using any other type of force first before shooting at someone (expecially against black people). Requiring them to use other options first would prevent A LOT of shootings. 
So if nothing happens between now and January 1, the police will get their policies written how they want them - ambiguous enough to let them kill people in situations where other options were available to them. That’s where you come in...
If you’re in California, demand your police dept and county sheriff adopt a use of force policy that is written by communities - a policy that, at minimum, makes deadly force a last resort by requiring officers exhaust ALL alternatives available to them before using deadly force.
And that’s the minimum standard. Police should also be banned from shooting at vehicles, using chokeholds or strangleholds, and a range of other restrictions that are proven to save lives.
You can see what restrictions (if any) on police use of force your city and county’s police department currently has and find contact info to demand they make their policy stronger at policescorecard.org
While you’re engaging your city council, mayor and police chief, get them to cancel contracts with Lexipol. Lexipol policies are less restrictive than policies written by cities/communities, and that difference can mean life or death - and whether the police are held accountable.
