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AGENDA ITEM REPORT

Title: Report on Proposed Changes to the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
REPORT PROFILE
MEETING DATE
10/18/2018		 BUREAU SUBMITTING THIS REPORT
Executive Office
RESEARCHED BY (PRINT NAME)
Melani Singley		 REVIEWED BY (PRINT NAME)
Scott Loggins
REPORT DATE
08/27/2018		 APPROVED BY
Manuel Alvarez, Jr.		 DATE APPROVED
09/24/2018
PURPOSE
Decision Requested		 FINANCIAL IMPACT
No

ISSUE:
Should the Commission approve, subject to the Notice of Proposed Regulatory Action process, the proposed changes to Commission Regulation 1013 and provide revised language for the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics? 
BACKGROUND:
The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics (Code of Ethics) was adopted by the Commission as a requirement in 1966 (Attachment A).  It acts as an affirmation that the individual, as a law enforcement officer, will adhere to the Constitution, act in a manner consistent with the law and departmental policies and do so ethically and without undue influence. With few exceptions, the content has remained unchanged throughout the past five decades. 
ANALYSIS:

Commission Regulation 1013 (Attachment B) requires that the Code of Ethics be administered to all peace officer trainees during the basic course and to all other persons at the time of appointment. Although the current Code of Ethics has remained a constant throughout the years, the Commission has requested that the language be reviewed to ensure that it is relevant and inclusive of all who are served by California law enforcement. To that end, the specific language that is in question is in bold italics in the first paragraph of Commission Procedure C-3: Code of Ethics (Attachment C). Possible suggestions include replacing the word “mankind” with “the community,” “all,” “humankind,” or other language deemed appropriate by the Commission. Suggestions for replacing the word “men” include “people,” “persons,” deleting the word “men” altogether, or other language deemed appropriate by the Commission. 

For consistency with the Commission’s mission to move all procedures into regulation, Commission Procedure C-3: Code of Ethics will be deleted and the language, as modified by the Commission, will be incorporated into Commission Regulation 1013 (Attachment D). 
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Commission discuss and approve revised language for the Code of Ethics, including modification of Regulation 1013 and deletion of Procedure C-3, that will be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for the Notice of Proposed Regulatory Action process, and read such revision onto the record for staff to memorialize.
 
ATTACHMENT(S):
Name: Type:
Attach_A_-_1966_Code_of_Ethics.pdf Cover Memo
Attach_B_-_Regulation_1013.docx Cover Memo
Attach_C_-_Law_Enforcement_Code_of_Ethics.docx Cover Memo
Attach_D_-_Reg_1013_and_Proc_C-3.docx Cover Memo