POST Monthly Report

July 2020

Keeping you up to date on POST projects

POST Releases New “Human Trafficking” Training Video

POST has released its newest training video, “Human Trafficking.” Available to view on the POST Learning Portal, this training prepares California law enforcement professionals for the recognition, enforcement, and investigation of laws pertaining to the crime of human trafficking. Upon completion of the program, officers will have a greater understanding of the laws covering human trafficking, how to identify commonalities in victimology, and how to conduct a human trafficking investigation. Officers will also recognize their important role and how best to enforce human trafficking laws. The new video program offers group or individual trainee viewing modes, and printable instructor and trainee documents for group-facilitated or individual instruction.

Questions about the new “Human Trafficking” training video may be directed to Nick Muyo, Learning Technology Resources Bureau, at (916) 227-4895.

POST Provides Update to South Bay Training Managers

On June 25, 2020, El Camino Community College hosted a South Bay Training Manager meeting. Representatives from the Los Angeles District Attorney Investigators, Los Angeles Port Police, Santa Barbara Police Department, California State University Long Beach, and others discussed contemporary training topics. Region 9 Consultant John Turner provided a POST update on current training opportunities and discussed the value of the new POST Wellness “Silent No More” initiative, encouraging all training managers to view the new Did You Know? video. Training managers were encouraged to take an active interest in officer and dispatcher wellness in their agencies.

Questions regarding this meeting may be directed to Law Enforcement Consultant, John Turner, Training Delivery and Compliance Bureau, at (916) 531-3775.

The Quality Assessment Program Establishes Guidelines For Assessment Of Distance Learning Courses

The Quality Assessment Program (QAP) uses subject matter experts (SMEs) to evaluate POST certified courses for content and delivery. Emphasis is placed on delivering current, relevant curriculum in a manner conducive to adult learning. In July 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions QAP evaluators assessed distance learning courses that were transitioned from traditional learning courses. In preparation for these assessments, a committee was organized to create QAP Distance Learning Guidelines. These SMEs have extensive training and education in adult learning theory, course facilitation and curriculum design. The guidelines were created to provide direction for QAP evaluators as well as instructors who wish to effectively deliver POST courses in a distance learning format. Below is an excerpt from the foreword of the Distance Learning Guidelines:

“Perhaps the most important idea to take away from the guidelines is this: the characteristics of online learning are such that traditional classroom-based learning strategies may not simply be transferred online. Instead, teaching methods must be realigned in a way that minimizes technological limitations while also taking advantage of the benefits offered by online environments. This guidebook contains suggestions for how this may be accomplished.”

These guidelines will be used to establish an assessment rubric which will be used for evaluation of distance learning courses. If you have any questions regarding QAP, please contact Special Consultant Tamara Baarts, Training Program Services Bureau, at (916) 227-7357.

Administering POST Entry-Level Exams During COVID-19

During the COVID-19 Emergency, POST continues to provide all entry-level testing services to California law enforcement agencies (LEAs) who have a current test security agreement. The POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery and the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery can continue to be ordered through the Test Order Unit at POST.

On May 20, 2020, POST released the Notice of Guidelines for Entry-Level Test Administration Process During Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency Bulletin (pdf), outlining the recommended test administration procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. While POST recognizes the continuous hiring needs across California LEAs, POST strongly advises agencies to take extra precautions when administering in-person written exams. Furthermore, changes to an agency’s test administration process should comply with POST entry-level test security agreements in order to protect the security and integrity of our tests.

POST staff is available to assist LEAs with planning your agency’s test administration procedures to ensure compliance with our policy, while maintaining the safety of all agency staff and candidates. Please direct all questions and comments to the Strategic Communication and Research Bureau.

POST Participates in Ventura County Law Enforcement Training Manager’s Association Online Meeting for Training Coordinators

On July 16, 2020, POST participated with Training Coordinators from Ventura County Law Enforcement Training Manager’s Association (LETMA) for an online meeting. POST provided an update on recent POST Bulletins concerning the Course Certification for Webinars, the updated POST Guidelines for Student Safety in Certified Courses, the announcement of the Distance Learning Grant Program, the release of the Officer Wellness training video, and subjects discussed from the most recent POST Commission meeting in June.

The group discussed the different ways agencies are conducting training during the COVID-19 conditions and a lengthy discussion on options to present online/webinar formatted training. Agencies shared ideas/recommendations on achieving training compliance and thinking outside the box to meet their own agency’s training needs. The group agreed to continue to meet online every two months to keep everyone informed and provide information sharing.

Questions regarding the Training Manager’s group online meeting may be directed to Christine Ford, Training Delivery Compliance Bureau, at (916) 227-0472.

AB 332 Research Project Update

The Assembly Bill 332 (Penal Code Section 13510.05) research project data collection and analyses are continuing. Initial testing, and if relevant, remediation and retest outcome data, is being collected on all 42 POST required tests for all individuals attending any Intensive Format, Regular Basic Course academy, since July 1, 2019.

As of July 20, 2020, data has been collected on 2,259 students enrolled in 37 academy classes from 20 different academies. This is the primary dataset to be used for the project analyses, since these academies all presented the same set of tests based on the same training and testing specifications. POST staff are continuing to screen each academy class’s data for omissions. Currently there are 168 students from 19 classes at 14 academies with at least one missing test score. POST staff is contacting these academies to collect the missing data. Academies are encouraged to assist POST in making the analysis database as complete as possible.

In addition, data has been collected from two academies (70 students) that are using the newly approved reduced set of firearms tests. This data, and other academy data with the revised test plan, will be analyzed separately.

Academies are encouraged to contact Chau Chan, at (916) 227-4835, as soon as they encounter any issues, questions, or are unclear with the task or instructions. Questions related the analyses of this data should be direct to Dr. Bob Holmgren, at (916) 227-4830.

Chief of Fontana Police Department Receives POST Executive Certificate

Congratulations to Chief Billy Green of the Fontana Police Department (PD) for receiving his POST Executive Certificate. Prior to his law enforcement career, Chief Green served his nation in the Marine Corps. He was hired by the Baldwin Park Police Department in 1997 and he joined the Fontana Police Department in 1999. Chief Green stated, “the community of Fontana is served by a phenomenal group of hard-working police professionals that truly care about doing the right thing. I am honored to be their leader.”

Chief Green served in a variety of positions including Acting Chief of Police, Detective and Sergeant for the Fontana School Police Department, and on the Inland Valley Swat for 17 years. He is a graduate of the POST Sherman Block Leadership Institute and the Los Angeles Police Department Leadership Program. He has two Bachelor’s Degrees, one from Southern Illinois University and one from California State University, Northridge. He has his Master’s Degree in Public Administration.

Questions regarding Region 7 may be directed to Regional Consultant Matt O’Deane, Training Delivery and Compliance Bureau, at (916) 215-4188.

Meet the New POST Employees

Anne Johnston

Law Enforcement Consultant II

Learning Technology Resources

Anne comes to us following a diverse career in public safety which began with the Orange County Probation Department in 1991. She joined the California Highway Patrol in 1995 and held various assignments as an officer and sergeant, including as the Department’s POST Training Coordinator. Anne previously worked for POST (2008-2014) as both a Law Enforcement Consultant and Bureau Chief in Training Program Services and Learning Technology Resources before joining the Stockton Unified School District Police Department, where she served as Chief of Police since 2017. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Science in Criminal Justice. Anne joins POST as a Law Enforcement Consultant II in the Learning Technology Resources Bureau.

Legislative Update

Status of Current Legislation

The following is Legislation assigned to POST in the 2020-21 session. (Updated 7/24/2020)

View a detailed report on legislative matters pertaining to law enforcement and POST.

Bill # and Author	Title and Summary	Status of Bill
AB 66 Assembly Member Gonzalez	Police: use of force. Would prohibit the use of kinetic energy projectiles or chemical agents, as defined, by any law enforcement agency to disperse any assembly, protest, demonstration, or other gathering of persons, except in compliance with specified standards set by the bill, and would prohibit their use solely due to a violation of an imposed curfew, verbal threat, or noncompliance with a law enforcement directive. The bill would prohibit the use of chloroacetophenone tear gas or 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile gas by law enforcement agencies	Amended Date: 07/21/2020 Status: 7/21/2020-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 846 Assembly Member Burke	Public Employment: public officers or employees declared by law to be peace officers Current law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to perform various functions involving the training of peace officers. Current law requires peace officers in this state to meet specified minimum standards, including, among other requirements, that peace officers be evaluated by a physician and surgeon or psychologist and found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer. This bill would require that evaluation to include bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.	Amended Date: 06/25/2020 Status: 7/1/2020-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 1022 Assembly Member Holden	Peace officers: use of force Current law requires each law enforcement agency, on or before January 1, 2021, to maintain a policy that provides a minimum standard on the use of force. Current law requires that policy, among other things, to require that officers report potential excessive force to a superior officer when present and observing another officer using force that the officer believes to be unnecessary, and to require that officers intercede when present and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is necessary, as specified. This bill would require those law enforcement policies to require those officers to immediately report potential excessive force, and to intercede when present and observing an officer using excessive force.	Amended Date: 07/16/2020 Status: 7/16/2020-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 1196 Assembly Member Gipson	Peace officers: use of force Would prohibit a law enforcement agency from authorizing the use of a carotid restraint or a choke hold, as defined, and techniques or transport methods that involve a substantial risk of positional asphyxia, as defined.	Amended Date: 07/9/2020 Status: 7/9/2020-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S
AB 1299 Assembly Member Salas	Peace officers: employment Would require any agency that employs peace officers to notify the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training when a peace officer separates from employment, including details of any termination or resignation in lieu of termination. This bill would require an agency to notify the commission if an officer leaves the agency with a complaint, charge, or investigation pending, and would require the agency to complete the investigation and notify the commission of its findings. The bill would require the commission to include this information in an officer’s profile and make that information available to specified parties including any law enforcement agency that is conducting a preemployment background investigation of the subject of the profile.	Amended Date: 06/29/2020 Status: 7/2/2020-Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(c). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S
AB 1506 Assembly Member McCarty	Police use of force Current law requires law enforcement agencies to report to the Department of Justice, as specified, any incident in which a peace officer is involved in a shooting or use of force that results in death or serious bodily injury. This bill would create a division within the Department of Justice to, upon the request of a law enforcement agency, review the use-of-force policy of the agency and make recommendations, as specified.	Amended Date: 6/17/2020 Status: 7/1/2020-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 1599 Assembly Member Cunningham	Peace Officers: investigations of misconduct Would require a law enforcement agency or oversight agency to complete its investigation into an allegation of the use of force resulting in death or great bodily injury, sexual assault, discharge of a firearm, or dishonesty relating to the reporting, investigation, or prosecution of a crime or misconduct by another peace officer or custodial officer, despite the peace officer’s or custodial officer’s voluntary separation from the employing agency. The bill would require the investigation to result in a finding that the allegation is either sustained, not sustained, unfounded, or exonerated, as defined. The bill would also require an agency other than an officer’s employing agency that conducts an investigation of these allegations to disclose its findings with the employing agency no later than the conclusion of the investigation.	Amended Date: 7/8/2020 Status: 7/8/2020-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 1709 Assembly Member Weber	Law Enforcement: use of force This bill would remove the specification that a peace officer making an arrest need not desist in their efforts because of resistance or threatened resistance from the person being arrested. The bill would also require a peace officer to attempt to control an incident through deescalation tactics, as defined, in an effort to reduce or avoid the need to use force, to render medical aid immediately or as soon as feasible, and to intervene to stop a violation of law or an excessive use of force by another peace officer.	Amended Date: 07/21/2020 Status: 7/21/2020-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S
SB 731 Senator Bradford	Public Employment Would provide that a threat, intimidation, or coercion under the Tom Bone Civil Rights act may be inherent in any interference with a civil right and would describe intentional acts for purposes of the act.The bill would, with a specified exception, eliminate immunity provisions for public employees involved in a violation of the act. The bill would, with a specified exception, eliminate immunity provisions for public employees involved in a violation of the act. The bill would also authorize specified persons to bring an action for the death of a person caused by a violation of the act.	Amended Date: 07/27/2020 Status: 5/30/2019-Referred to Com. on INS. (Amended 7/13/2020)
SB 776 Senator Skinner	Peace officers: release of records Would make every incident involving use of force subject to disclosure. The bill would remove the requirement that a complaint relating to sexual assault or dishonesty be found to be sustained following an investigation in order to be subject to disclosure. The bill would require records relating to sustained findings of wrongful arrests and wrongful searches to be subject to disclosure. The bill would also require the disclosure of records relating to an incident involving prejudice or discrimination on the basis of specified protected classes. The bill would require the retention of all complaints currently in the possession of a department or agency.	Amended Date: 07/27/2020 Status: 6/29/2020-Referred to Com. on PUB. S. (Amended 7/13/2020)
SB 1089 Senator Archuleta	Law enforcement: training policies Current law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training in the Department of Justice and requires the commission to adopt rules establishing minimum standards regarding the recruitment of peace officers. Existing law requires the commission to develop guidelines and implement courses of instruction regarding racial profiling, domestic violence, hate crimes, vehicle pursuits, and human trafficking, among others. Current law requires the commission to implement a course or courses of instruction for the regular and periodic training of law enforcement officers in the use of force. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to those provisions.	Introduced Date: 2/19/2020 Status: 8/31/2020-DEAD
SB 1392 Senator Bradford	Peace officers: basic course of training Current law requires every peace officer to have satisfactorily completed an introductory training course prescribed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Current law requires each applicant for admission to a basic course of training certified by the commission that includes the carrying and use of firearms, who is not sponsored by a local or other law enforcement agency, or is not a peace officer, to submit written certification to the Department of Justice that the applicant has no criminal history background that would disqualify them from possessing a firearm. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.	Introduced Date: 2/21/2020 Status: 3/12/2020-Referred to Com. on RLS.

Bill # and Author

Title and Summary

Status of Bill

AB 66

Assembly Member Gonzalez

Police: use of force.

Would prohibit the use of kinetic energy projectiles or chemical agents, as defined, by any law enforcement agency to disperse any assembly, protest, demonstration, or other gathering of persons, except in compliance with specified standards set by the bill, and would prohibit their use solely due to a violation of an imposed curfew, verbal threat, or noncompliance with a law enforcement directive. The bill would prohibit the use of chloroacetophenone tear gas or 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile gas by law enforcement agencies

Amended Date: 07/21/2020

Status: 7/21/2020-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

AB 846

Assembly Member Burke

Public Employment: public officers or employees declared by law to be peace officers

Current law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to perform various functions involving the training of peace officers. Current law requires peace officers in this state to meet specified minimum standards, including, among other requirements, that peace officers be evaluated by a physician and surgeon or psychologist and found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer. This bill would require that evaluation to include bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

Amended Date: 06/25/2020

Status: 7/1/2020-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

AB 1022

Assembly Member Holden

Peace officers: use of force

Current law requires each law enforcement agency, on or before January 1, 2021, to maintain a policy that provides a minimum standard on the use of force. Current law requires that policy, among other things, to require that officers report potential excessive force to a superior officer when present and observing another officer using force that the officer believes to be unnecessary, and to require that officers intercede when present and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is necessary, as specified. This bill would require those law enforcement policies to require those officers to immediately report potential excessive force, and to intercede when present and observing an officer using excessive force.

Amended Date: 07/16/2020

Status: 7/16/2020-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

AB 1196

Assembly Member Gipson

Peace officers: use of force

Would prohibit a law enforcement agency from authorizing the use of a carotid restraint or a choke hold, as defined, and techniques or transport methods that involve a substantial risk of positional asphyxia, as defined.

Amended Date: 07/9/2020

Status: 7/9/2020-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S

AB 1299

Assembly Member Salas

Peace officers: employment

Would require any agency that employs peace officers to notify the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training when a peace officer separates from employment, including details of any termination or resignation in lieu of termination. This bill would require an agency to notify the commission if an officer leaves the agency with a complaint, charge, or investigation pending, and would require the agency to complete the investigation and notify the commission of its findings. The bill would require the commission to include this information in an officer’s profile and make that information available to specified parties including any law enforcement agency that is conducting a preemployment background investigation of the subject of the profile.

Amended Date: 06/29/2020

Status: 7/2/2020-Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(c). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S

AB 1506

Assembly Member McCarty

Police use of force

Current law requires law enforcement agencies to report to the Department of Justice, as specified, any incident in which a peace officer is involved in a shooting or use of force that results in death or serious bodily injury. This bill would create a division within the Department of Justice to, upon the request of a law enforcement agency, review the use-of-force policy of the agency and make recommendations, as specified.

Amended Date: 6/17/2020

Status: 7/1/2020-Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

AB 1599

Assembly Member Cunningham

Peace Officers: investigations of misconduct

Would require a law enforcement agency or oversight agency to complete its investigation into an allegation of the use of force resulting in death or great bodily injury, sexual assault, discharge of a firearm, or dishonesty relating to the reporting, investigation, or prosecution of a crime or misconduct by another peace officer or custodial officer, despite the peace officer’s or custodial officer’s voluntary separation from the employing agency. The bill would require the investigation to result in a finding that the allegation is either sustained, not sustained, unfounded, or exonerated, as defined. The bill would also require an agency other than an officer’s employing agency that conducts an investigation of these allegations to disclose its findings with the employing agency no later than the conclusion of the investigation.

Amended Date: 7/8/2020

Status: 7/8/2020-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

AB 1709

Assembly Member Weber

Law Enforcement: use of force

This bill would remove the specification that a peace officer making an arrest need not desist in their efforts because of resistance or threatened resistance from the person being arrested. The bill would also require a peace officer to attempt to control an incident through deescalation tactics, as defined, in an effort to reduce or avoid the need to use force, to render medical aid immediately or as soon as feasible, and to intervene to stop a violation of law or an excessive use of force by another peace officer.

Amended Date: 07/21/2020

Status: 7/21/2020-From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S

SB 731

Senator Bradford

Public Employment

Would provide that a threat, intimidation, or coercion under the Tom Bone Civil Rights act may be inherent in any interference with a civil right and would describe intentional acts for purposes of the act.The bill would, with a specified exception, eliminate immunity provisions for public employees involved in a violation of the act. The bill would, with a specified exception, eliminate immunity provisions for public employees involved in a violation of the act. The bill would also authorize specified persons to bring an action for the death of a person caused by a violation of the act.

Amended Date: 07/27/2020

Status: 5/30/2019-Referred to Com. on INS. (Amended 7/13/2020)

SB 776

Senator Skinner

Peace officers: release of records

Would make every incident involving use of force subject to disclosure. The bill would remove the requirement that a complaint relating to sexual assault or dishonesty be found to be sustained following an investigation in order to be subject to disclosure. The bill would require records relating to sustained findings of wrongful arrests and wrongful searches to be subject to disclosure. The bill would also require the disclosure of records relating to an incident involving prejudice or discrimination on the basis of specified protected classes. The bill would require the retention of all complaints currently in the possession of a department or agency.

Amended Date: 07/27/2020

Status: 6/29/2020-Referred to Com. on PUB. S. (Amended 7/13/2020)

SB 1089

Senator Archuleta

Law enforcement: training policies

Current law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training in the Department of Justice and requires the commission to adopt rules establishing minimum standards regarding the recruitment of peace officers. Existing law requires the commission to develop guidelines and implement courses of instruction regarding racial profiling, domestic violence, hate crimes, vehicle pursuits, and human trafficking, among others. Current law requires the commission to implement a course or courses of instruction for the regular and periodic training of law enforcement officers in the use of force. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to those provisions.

Introduced Date: 2/19/2020

Status: 8/31/2020-DEAD

SB 1392

Senator Bradford

Peace officers: basic course of training

Current law requires every peace officer to have satisfactorily completed an introductory training course prescribed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Current law requires each applicant for admission to a basic course of training certified by the commission that includes the carrying and use of firearms, who is not sponsored by a local or other law enforcement agency, or is not a peace officer, to submit written certification to the Department of Justice that the applicant has no criminal history background that would disqualify them from possessing a firearm. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.

Introduced Date: 2/21/2020

Status: 3/12/2020-Referred to Com. on RLS.

The POST Monthly Report is a monthly status report that informs POST Commissioners and the California law enforcement community of recent progress on POST projects and instructional programs under development, and other information of importance to our mission to continually enhance the professionalism of California law enforcement.

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