Defund The Police 2.0? CA Lawmakers Target Local Law Enforcement

Here we go again. The California Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Rob Bonta, has swooped into Stockton to investigate a fatal officer-involved shooting that took place on April 7, 2025. A San Joaquin County Sheriff’s deputy was involved, and one individual lost their life. Details remain scarce, but one thing is crystal clear: Sacramento’s heavy-handed oversight, courtesy of Assembly Bill 1506, is once again flexing its muscle over local law enforcement. This isn’t about justice; it’s about control.

The incident unfolded at 11:14 a.m., and within hours, the state’s California Police Shooting Investigation Team descended on the scene. Under AB 1506, enacted back in 2021, the DOJ now has the authority to probe every officer-involved shooting resulting in an unarmed civilian’s death. Transparency? Sure, that’s the pitch. But dig deeper, and it’s a blatant power grab, stripping local agencies of their ability to handle their own affairs. For Stockton, a city already wrestling with crime and strained resources, this is salt in the wound.

Let’s talk facts. AB 1506 was sold as a way to boost accountability after years of public outcry over police shootings. Fair enough; no one disputes the need for trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. But this law, rammed through by Sacramento lawmakers, only applies to unarmed civilian deaths, a narrow slice of the pie. What about the broader reality officers face daily? In 2023 alone, the FBI reported a 6% uptick in assaults on law enforcement nationwide, with California’s numbers trending even higher. Deputies in San Joaquin County aren’t facing teddy bears; they’re up against real threats.

Stockton’s own history backs this up. The city’s police department has been under fire for years, battling high crime rates while trying to rebuild trust through initiatives like the City Manager’s Review Board, launched in 2020. That board, packed with community voices, was a local fix, not a state mandate. It’s produced results too, cutting use-of-force complaints by 15% since its inception, per city data. So why does Sacramento think it knows better? AB 1506 doesn’t empower communities; it sidelines them, handing the reins to bureaucrats who’ve never walked a beat in Stockton.

Now, some argue independent reviews level the playing field, rooting out bias that might creep into local investigations. They point to historical flops, like when internal probes in the ‘90s let questionable shootings slide. Fine, history isn’t spotless. But today’s reality is different. The Supreme Court’s Graham v. Connor ruling in 1989 set a clear standard: officers’ actions get judged on what they knew in the heat of the moment, not hindsight. Add in body cams, de-escalation training, and local oversight boards, and the old excuses don’t hold water. Stockton’s deputies aren’t cowboys; they’re trained professionals facing split-second decisions.

Contrast that with the DOJ’s track record. Under AB 1506, investigations drag on, tying up resources and leaving officers in limbo. Look at the 2022 Oakland case: a probe stretched nine months, only to clear the officer involved. Meanwhile, morale tanked, and recruitment stalled. In Stockton, where the sheriff’s department is already stretched thin, this meddling risks more than just red tape; it jeopardizes public safety. When deputies hesitate, wondering if Sacramento will second-guess their every move, criminals don’t pause to reflect. They act.

There’s a smarter path. Stockton’s City Manager’s Review Board proves local solutions can work. Expand that model, give it teeth, and let communities hold their own accountable. Nationwide, places like Nashville have thrived with civilian oversight boards that balance transparency with respect for law enforcement’s realities. California could learn a thing or two. Instead, AB 1506 doubles down on top-down control, ignoring the racial disparities it claims to fix. Black individuals still face disproportionate force, per 2024 stats, yet the law’s narrow focus misses the forest for the trees.

The Stockton shooting investigation will wrap up, and the DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section will issue its verdict. Maybe the deputy acted lawfully; maybe not. But one truth won’t change: Sacramento’s obsession with micromanaging law enforcement is a cure worse than the disease. Officers deserve clarity, not endless scrutiny from desk jockeys. Communities deserve safety, not state overreach. It’s time to rethink this experiment before it costs more than just trust.