‘A Green Light for Abuse’: Despite Reforms, California Counties Still Conceal Records on Police Use of Force

Senate Bill 1421, enacted in January, requires the sharing of law enforcement personnel cases when there are sustained findings of sexual assault, dishonesty-related misconduct, or use-of-force resulting in death or “great bodily injury.” The law was meant to increase accountability and transparency. But months later, the sheriff department hasn’t shared any of the requested records with Eng’s family. 

This week, her family and others joined the ACLU of Southern California in filing suit against Los Angeles county and the sheriff’s department, for not providing documents they say should be made public under SB 1421.   

“They have waited months since making those requests and years since their family members’ deaths for this information but have received nothing but silence from LASD,” the attorneys wrote in their complaint.

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