As more law enforcement officers strap on body cameras, there’s increasing confusion about the policies behind the practice.
Next month, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department has plans to start testing out body-worn cameras. The department has an interim policy in place, but an oversight group is asking for a few changes before the rules are solidified.
As VOSD contributor Kelly Davis reports, the county’s Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board recommended three key changes to the policy in a letter sent to Sheriff Bill Gore.
The group, an independent oversight board that investigates complaints against sheriff’s deputies and probation officers, says there’s one policy change at the top of its list: Don’t let deputies watch camera footage before writing reports. Why? Because it could influence them to change their reports to fit what unfolds on the footage.
Davis has more on CLERB’s recommendations and what body camera policies can say about the law enforcement agencies that use them.
A Pivotal Year for Public Schools
California schools are about to be rolling in dough.
Gov. Jerry Brown’s latest education budget proposal of $71.6 billion is up more than 50 percent since 2011.
But – you knew a but was coming, right? – there’s a huge pension debt to pay in coming years and an impending expiration date for temporary taxes that help fund education. Plus, Brown never hesitates to remind Californians that another recession is pretty much inevitable.
CALmatters’ Judy Lin digs in to the interesting moment for school budgets across the state.
A big wrench in the system is what’s called the Local Control Funding Formula, which we’ve explained here. The system was supposed to ensure districts with the most special needs and English-learning students get the funds they need to support those kids, but “The lion’s share of increased funding has gone to teacher and staff salaries and benefits,” CalMatters found.
Still, San Diego Assemblywoman Shirley Weber tells CalMatters “it is our hope that it’ll make its way into the classroom and make a difference for our children.”
Your Daily Dose of Chargers Drama
The news that the Chargers are staying in San Diego for at least a year continued to inspire coverage throughout the weekend.
• The Orange County Register thinks Chargers owner Dean Spanos and city officials need to learn to play nice pretty quickly in order to get a stadium deal done.
• The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Jeff McDonald dropped by North Park Tavern and surmised from the grumpy soundbites he gathered that the Chargers “clearly have some fencing to mend with their San Diego fan base.”
• The U-T’s Kevin Acee writes an open letter of sorts directed at Spanos, whom Acee says should feel lucky that he’s still (sorta) welcomed in sunny San Diego.
• Take a minute to read former CityBeat reporter Dave Maass’ 450-word rant on why San Diegans needs to recognize the Chargers for what they really are.
“San Diego is incredible and huge,” Maass writes on Facebook. “The Chargers are underwhelming and miniscule. The Chargers offer very little in return for the city’s resources, except for a commercialized sense of local pride that gives some people an excuse to drink and wear lightning bolts. It’s mildly euphoric and addictive, sure, but the team’s actual importance to San Diego is entirely a fabrication of public perception.”
Coronado’s John Doe Finally Identified and More Quick News Hits
• Coronado’s famous John Doe, a man who’s been on life support for 16 years, has finally been identified. The U-T reports that, thanks to recent media coverage, the man, nicknamed “Garage 66,” has been identified by family members. Neither the family nor the hospital wants to talk to the public right now, though, so none of us get to know his name.
• It’s been four years since the San Onofre nuclear plant shutdown. The U-T’s Jeff McDonald uses the anniversary to bring up the questions that still remainafter failed steam generators were blamed for the plant’s closure.
• 10News sat down with Lt. Debbie Farrar of the San Diego Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team to talk about the team’s mission and efforts.
• The San Diego Association of Governments wants to get a measure on the November ballot that would pitch a half-cent sales tax increase in order to help fund transportation projects across the county. San Diego Republicans are officially not down with the tax hike, in case you thought they might be. (U-T)
• Wow. That’s some cheap gas. (The Escondido Grapevine)
• Someone give this sea lion a Drumstick. He deserves it. (NBC 7 San Diego)
San Diego Social Media Moments
• This one’s mostly for VOSD managing editor Sara Libby: It’s a Corgi wearing pajamas because of San Diego’s cold and rainy weather over the weekend.
• Speaking of the bad weather, poor professional golfers, right? San Diego did not behave and ESPN’s golf reporter let us have it.