California appellate panel rejects a city’s claim that the LEOBOR does not apply if accused police officers ultimately are exonerated by a Board of Rights. "Under the City’s theory, it could choose to violate the Act if it was confident that it would not ultimately prevail in its attempt to impose discipline, an absurd result." Paterson v. City of Los Angeles, #B208682, 2009 Cal. App. Lexis 963 (2nd Dist.).
     Arbitrator orders the reinstatement of a police officer who was removed for violating a conduct regulation. Management failed to comply with state law and provide him with a signed complaint. A "Garrity Warning" form is not a signed complaint. City of Lubbock, Texas, and Individual Grievant, 125 LA (BNA) 554, AAA Case #71-390-00053-08 (Moore, 2008).
     Although verbal statements must be suppressed for not complying with the state's Bill of Rights law, a California appellate panel declines to exclude evidence of an officer's act of pointing her loaded firearm at a sergeant during her interrogation. "Although this action occurred during an interrogation which was conducted in a questionable manner, the remedy of suppression protects statements, not actions ..." Perez v. City of Los Angeles, #B199810, 2008 Cal. App. Lexis 1469 (2nd Dist.).
     California appellate court holds that city officials must not disclose police officer personnel records must cease permitting the public to access the Police Review Commission's investigations, reports, hearings, and findings. Berkeley Police Assn. v. City of Berkeley, #A118537, 2008 Cal. App. Lexis 1567 (1st Dist.).
     Rights granted law enforcement officers under the California Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act do not apply to officers that are subjected to criminal investigations conducted by their employers. Van Winkle v. County of Ventura, #B194395, 158 Cal.App. 4th 492, 2007 Cal. App. Lexis 2086 (2nd Dist.).
     The California Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act, Cal. Gov't Code §3303 did not apply to an interview of an officer because neither that officer nor the former employee were under investigation at the time. Eaton v. Siemens, #2:07-cv-0315, 2007 U.S. Dist. Lexis 58621 (E.D. Cal.).
     Where at most a reprimand could have resulted, an officer's conversation with her sergeant about report classifying procedures did not implicate the state's Bill of Rights Act, Calif. Govt. Code §3300. Steinert v. City of Covina, #B187940, 2006 Cal. App. Lexis 2097 (2d App. Dist. 2006). [N/R]
     California appellate court orders that a written reprimand be removed from a LAPD sergeant's personnel file. Management failed to give him notice of any proposed disciplinary action within one year of the discovery of the alleged misconduct, as required by the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act. Mays v. City of Los Angeles, #B188527, 2006 Cal. App. Lexis 1942 (2d Dist. 2006). {N/R}
     California appellate court rejects claim by a terminated officer that informal or self-initiated conversations with his superiors triggered protections afforded under the state's Procedural Bill of Rights Act. Correa v. County of Riverside, #E036581, 2005 Cal. App. Unpub. Lexis 11319 (4th App. Dist. 2005). [2006 FP Feb]
     An amendment to the Illinois Peace Officers' Rights law requires superiors to inform an officer under investigation, in writing, of the identity of interrogators and others who are present; it also requires officers to identify the persons who will be representing them during any interrogation. S.B. 1669, Pub. Act 94-0344, 50 ILCS 725/3.4. {N/R}
     California appellate court holds that the state's Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act does not apply to a criminal investigation conducted by an outside agency. Moreover, where a police officer avoids the severe penalty of dismissal by entering into a settlement agreement and accepts lesser discipline, he cannot seek a remedy under the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act to avoid that discipline. Alhambra Police Officers Assn. v. City of Alhambra, #B160896, 113 Cal. App. 4th 1413, 7 Cal.Rptr.3d 432 (2003); review denied, 2004 Cal. Lexis 2852 (2004). {N/R}
     Illinois now requires a sworn complaint as a precedent to a formal disciplinary interview of a law enforcement officer. Illinois Uniform Peace Officers' Disciplinary Act amendment, 50 ILCS 725/3.8. [2004 FP May]
     California appeals court upholds a compelled disciplinary interview, without the officer's lawyer present, when counsel was unable to appear for a rescheduled interview. Upland POA v. City of Upland, #E032607, 2003 Cal. App. Lexis 1407 (Cal. App.4th Dist. 2003). [Dec FP 2003]
     Under the state's Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights law, a California appeals court affirms a writ of mandate compelling a police dept. to provide, to officers that undergo investigatory interrogation, copies of tape-recorded witness interviews and rough notes taken by investigators. San Diego P.O.A. v. San Diego (Bejarno), #D037812, 98 Cal.App.4th 779, 120 Cal.Rptr.2d 609, 2002 Cal. App. Lexis 4145 (Cal. App. 4th Dist. 2002). {N/R}
     A police agency internal affairs index card listing all complaints made against a named officer, is a file "used for personnel purposes" under the state's Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act, for purposes of the officer's right to read and respond. Sacramento P.O.A. v. Venegas, #C030428, 124 Cal.Rptr.2d 666, 2002 Cal. App. Lexis 4584 (Cal. App. 3d Dist. 2002). {N/R}
     Depositions and cross-examinations of a police officer, who is a plaintiff in a civil action against the city, is not "interrogation" which would trigger rights under the state's Peace Officers' Disciplinary Act. Krocka v. Police Bd. of Chicago, #1-00-2639, 327 Ill.App.3d 36, 762 N.E.2d 577, 2001 Ill. App. Lexis 933 (7th Cir., 2001). {N/R}      California appellate court holds that the state's "Bill of Rights" law requiring accused officers to be given all "reports" pertaining to the I-A investigation includes notes and recordings made by investigating officers. San Diego P.O.A. v. San Diego, #D037812, 2002 Cal. App. Lexis 4145, 02 C.D.O.S. 5008 (Cal. 4th App. Dist. 2002). {N/R}
     Law enforcement agencies in California won a limited right to conceal from probationary peace officers information gathered about them during employment background investigations. Although the Officers' Procedural Bill of Rights Act guarantees the right to view adverse comments in their personnel files, a divided Supreme Court held that an employee may waive the protections of the law for pre-employment conduct, but not on-the-job complaints. Riverside v. Superior Court (Madrigal), #S094675, 27 Cal.4th 793, 42 P.2d 1034, 2002 Cal. Lexis 1878, 02 CDOS 2783 (Cal. 2002). [N/R]
     California appeals court upholds and tightens an injunction against management attempts to deny the constitutional and statutory rights of correctionsofficers being interviewed as witnesses and targets in a criminal investigation. Management cannot recast an internal inquiry as an independent or outside investigation when it enlists that investigation. Calif. Correctional POA v. St. of Calif., #A085064, 82 Cal.App.4th 294, 2000 Cal. App. Lexis 566, 98 Cal.Rptr.2d 302. [2000 FP 131-3]
     Law Enforcement Officers "Bill of Rights" reintroduced in the 105th Congress. Police chiefs and sheriff voice opposition. The bill and an analysis may be viewed at the AELE website: www.aele.org [1997 FP 52]
     California fire chiefs have no protection under Govt. Code 3301 (Public Safety Officers Bill of Rights) because they are not "peace officers" under Penal Code 830.37 (arson investigators). Gauthier v. City of Red Bluff, 95 D.A.R. 6413 (Cal.App. 1995). {N/R}
     Nevada statute protects personnel files of police officers from undisclosed entries and gives an officer the right to comment on the content. Nev. Stat. Sec. 289.040, amended by Ch. 672, L. 1991 (Eff. 10/1/91). [1992 FP 3]
     Wisconsin enacts police bill of rights law. Senate Bill 128, Wisconsin Laws 1979 Chapter 166. [1980 FP #71 p.4].
     Illinois adopts new "bill of rights" law; compromise between unions and police chief's association. [1984 FP #112 p.13].
     Maryland rules that police officers" Bill of Rights law covers investigations, not summary dismissals of untenured employees. DiGrazia v. Co. Exec. for Montgomery Co., 288 Md. 437, 418 A.2d 1191, 1980 Md. Lexis 213; 115 LRRM (BNA) 4409.

     See also: Disciplinary Interrogations, Disciplinary Punishment and Transfers.