California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said he is joining members of the California Black, Latino, and Asian and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucuses in sponsoring legislation to promote safety, transparency, and improved public trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

The legislation, AB 284, the Deadly Force Evaluation Act, would require the California Department of Justice to conduct a first-of-its kind statewide evaluation of officer-involved shootings.

AB 284 was introduced by Assemblymembers Kevin McCarty (District 7-Sacramento), Rob Bonta (District 18-Oakland), Reggie Jones-Sawyer (District 59-South Los Angeles) and co-authored by Sen. Ben Hueso (District 40-San Diego) and Assemblymember Chris Holden (District 41-Pasadena).

“Deadly force incidents leave a lasting imprint on our communities and the officers involved. We need to develop targeted, effective solutions that can prevent the likelihood of these incidents,” said Becerra. “AB 284 will, for the first time, take a comprehensive look that ensures facts, not innuendo, guide state policy.”

He added, “As the state’s chief law enforcement officer, I want to ensure that appropriate policies, training and oversight and accountability mechanisms are in place to keep our communities and peace officers safe.”

Under AB 284, the California Department of Justice would be required to evaluate officer-involved shooting incidents resulting in death or serious injury occurring between Jan. 1, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2016.

Pursuant to the bill, the Department of Justice would study the nature and circumstances of officer-involved shootings across the state, including examining the policies, procedures, and training in place at the employing agency of the officer.

The bill also would require the Department of Justice to prepare a written report describing its findings and recommendations.

There were two officer-involved shootings in Lake County during the time period that the bill proposes to study.

Both shootings occurred in the jurisdiction of the Clearlake Police Department.

In the first, which occurred in October 2015, a Clearlake Police officer shot and wounded a man who held two women hostage at gunpoint. The man who was shot survived.

The second occurred in March 2016 and involved a Clearlake Police officer who had been in a struggle with a male burglary suspect. The suspect beat the officer with a 12-inch steel flashlight before the officer shot and killed him.

The District Attorney’s Office, which investigates all officer-involved shootings in Lake County, ruled in both cases that the officers were justified in using deadly force.