Sweeping changes are on the way for the embattled Vallejo Police Department. Jodi Hernandez reports. Jodi Hernandez reports.
Sweeping changes are on the way for the embattled Vallejo Police Department.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday announced he has placed the department under court oversight requiring the agency to make major changes within the next five years.
"The people of Vallejo deserve a police department that listens to them and guarantees that their civil rights are protected," Bonta said during a news briefing Monday.
Vallejo's police department has been plagued with numerous police shootings, claims of excessive force, and civil rights violations for years. It will now be required to implement 45 major reforms and get it all done within five years.
"It's about correcting injustice and enhancing public safety for all people in Vallejo," Bonta said. "It's about ensuring that the Vallejo Police Department listens to the people it serves and upholds their civil rights and constitutional rights."
Civil rights attorney Melissa Nold said Bonta's announcement is long overdue and that the stipulated agreement will save lives.
"There's a way to police people and hold them accountable without causing them to be seriously injured or killed," Nold said. "that era is an era gone by now."
Vallejo's interim police Chief Jason Ta said he is behind the reforms, but both he and the police union point out the department has been challenged with severe understaffing. The police union in a statement said the city of 125,000 "has a paltry 75 police officers in total and calls for service wait for days. The blowback of reform will further play out... only the citizens of Vallejo will be left behind in the process."
Bonta said the city has no choice but to figure it out and make the needed changes.
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"That is not an excuse for not implementing these changes," Bonta said. "These changes will be required by law to be implemented."
