At our February meeting we carefully went over the proposed PrOTECT Ordinance that the Coalition for Police Accountability and Transparency (CPAT) has asked us to join. The coalition includes the ACLU, Alliance San Diego, and other groups that we often work with. PrOTECT would require San Diego police to have probable cause in order to stop, ask for identification, question, and/or search an individual. The ordinance will also limit stops for equipment violations. It will hold officers accountable if they violate the PrOTECT ordinance. We had some concerns about some sections of the ordinance and have shared them with others in the coalition. We hope that our feedback will improve the ordinance and make it more likely to pass the City Council.
We also shared the concerns that we have with District Attorney Summer Stephan’s Blueprint for Transforming Victim and Survivor Care. While many of these suggestions will help victims of crimes, our committee felt that the emphasis right now should be on improving the justice system so that innocent people do not become victims of the system.
The March meeting will be on Wednesday, March 9 at 12 noon on Zoom. You can access it by going to the League calendar.
Our responses to CLERB and the election of a new sheriff will be foremost on our list of “Things to Do” for much of 2022.