Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Sacramento Police Must Improve Use-Of-Force Policies, California DOJ Report Says

  •  Bob Moffitt 
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

In the wake of the shooting death of Stephon Clark by Sacramento police, Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn discusses some of the questions posed by the Sacramento City Council of how to prevent such incidents, Tuesday, April 10, 2018.

Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

In a review brought about by last year’s fatal police shooting of Stephon Clark, the California Department of Justice recommended on Tuesday more than 60 reforms for the Sacramento Police Department, including some related to de-escalation techniques, officer use of force and investigating misconduct.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced his department’s 97-page review at a press conference with Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Police Chief Daniel Hahn.

The report offers a breadth of reforms, including that the department should end “problematic” uses of force, including carotid holds or firing weapons from moving vehicles, in addition recommending more officer training and a policy that an outside agency investigate "serious uses of force."

Becerra said the department should ”place greater emphasis on teaching officers to have a guardian mindset, meaning that officers emphasize communication over commands and cooperation over compliance..

The DOJ’s review also found that some investigating officers had different levels of training and  some were not thorough with their work.

The practices of other departments were also cited, including Seattle, which prohibits officers from removing their guns from their holsters if no one is at threat of being harmed.  

Hahn said the department has already created a research and development division to look at reforms and has made some of the DOJ’s recommended changes. But he was noncommittal as to whether he would institute each of them.

"I know one of them refers to something a department in [Washington], D.C., is doing. So my guess is my research folks will fly out to D.C. and see exactly how they implement it, what training they have, their policies and then we'll determine whether it works here," he said.

There was praise in the report, including for how some officers had de-escalated situations or employed tactics that resulted in a safe outcome. For instance, it cited that officers had increased the safety of all involved when they took cover, kept their distance and waited patiently for an encounter to be resolved. 

The report states that Hahn’s department should perform more community outreach events and develop its “Early Intervention Program” to recognize safe and ethical police practices by employees.

The DOJ credited the department for requiring more training than recommended by Peace Officers Standards & Training guidelines.   

The attorney general announced its review of the department last March, after two officers shot and killed Clark. Becerra says the Clark shooting was not one of the cases reviewed.

Read the full DOJ report here:


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

Bob Moffitt

Former Sacramento Region Reporter

Bob reported on all things northern California and Nevada. His coverage of police technology, local athletes, and the environment has won a regional Associated Press and several Edward R. Murrow awards.  Read Full Bio 

More Stories

AP Photo/Terry Chea

Almond hulls in your coffee? Some growers look to upcycle almond byproducts into food

May 25, 2023

AP Photo/Tran Nguyen

Fentanyl bills advance at the California Legislature, but divisions on approach remain

May 26, 2023

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Grand jury report says Sacramento region lacks coordinated approach to tackling homelessness

May 26, 2023

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.