CALIFORNIA POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASE - Legislation Would Decimate Police K9 Programs

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Bill 742 (Jackson), the bill introduced at the beginning of the year to ban police canines, has been amended to now restrict canines in more severe ways than existing statute governing law enforcement’s use of firearms. In doing so, AB 742 would decimate police canine programs despite the significant benefit canines play in de-escalating situations and providing for officer safety. The Assembly is expected to vote on AB 742 in the coming days. 

Below is the statement on the bill from the President of the California Police Chiefs Association, Chief Alex Gammelgard on the amended version of AB 742: 

“De-escalation is the number one priority for our officers facing hostile situations, which is why our canines play such an important role. In the overwhelming majority of deployments, canines result in the suspect’s compliance without any need for force. Not allowing canines except in situations as drastic as those requiring the immediate use of a firearm shows a lack of understanding of their comprehensive value and complete disregard for community safety.”

As amended, AB 742 would only allow the use of a canine against “an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury,” which means a suspect demonstrate the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to immediately cause severe injury or death. Under the proposed restrictions, canines would not be able to deploy against fleeing suspects, even following the commission of a violent or serious felony. Canines would also not be able to be used to search for suspects hiding to ambush an officer, holding a victim hostage, or nearly all but the most extreme circumstances, in which lethal force would be justified. 

AB 742 is currently pending on the on the Assembly Floor and is eligible to be voted any time between now and the deadline to pass the Assembly on June 2nd.