SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – A first-in-the-nation measure restricting when police can use deadly force has moved forward in the California Legislature.
The legislation advanced Tuesday faces a tougher fight in the full Assembly. Even lawmakers supporting the measure say it may go too far as they try to balance the safety of officers and residents in the nation’s most populous state.
The measure spurred by last year’s shooting of unarmed vandalism suspect Stephon Clark would allow police to kill only if there is no reasonable alternative.
The committee’s chairman says a tougher standard will do little good without buy-in from law enforcement organizations, which support another plan.
Lawmakers are considering emotional testimony from officers and survivors of police shootings as they juggle radically different proposals intended to cut down on police shootings.
