CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT LABOR REFORM PROPOSALS

By Catherine Fisk, Hon. Joseph Grodin (Ret.), Hon. Thelton Henderson (Ret.), Hon. John True (Ret.), Ronald Yank, and Barry Winograd

Catherine Fisk is Barbara Nachtrieb Armstrong Professor at Berkeley Law and author of numerous books and articles on labor and employment law. Joseph Grodin is Emeritus Professor of Law at Hastings College of the Law and former Justice of the California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. Thelton Henderson is a Distinguished Visitor at Berkeley Law specializing in civil rights law, and retired U.S. District Judge of the Northern District of California. John True is a retired Judge of the Alameda County Superior Court, mediator and arbitrator, and former lawyer specializing in the representation of employees and unions. Ronald Yank is former Director of the California Department of Personnel Administration and a lawyer, who represented law enforcement and firefighter unions. Barry Winograd is an arbitrator and mediator, past president of the National Academy of Arbitrators, and Lecturer at Berkeley Law.

INTRODUCTION

George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.¹ Floyd lost his life as one officer pressed a knee to his neck and others held him to the ground.² Body worn cameras recorded the incident in a nine-minute video.³ Leaders on all sides of the partisan divide expressed outrage at what occurred. Despite public health lockdowns due to the covid pandemic, massive protests ensued throughout the country, and the world responded to Floyd’s death.⁴ Proposals for changes in police practices and funding soon followed.⁵