Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced a settlement agreement with the city of Vallejo and the Vallejo Police Department (VPD) to implement reforms aimed at enhancing police policies and practices. This agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and VPD, with Bonta emphasizing the importance of rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the community.

In a statement, Attorney General Bonta highlighted the significance of taking decisive action to correct injustices, build trust, and enhance public safety for the people of Vallejo. He stated, "The settlement agreement with the city of Vallejo and its police department demonstrates commitment to correcting injustices, building trust, and enhancing public safety for the people of Vallejo."

The settlement agreement requires the city of Vallejo and VPD to undertake a series of actions overseen by an independent Evaluator and DOJ. These actions aim to promote public safety, reduce unlawful uses of force, eliminate racial disparities, strengthen accountability systems, increase support for officers, and protect the rights of the community.

Under the terms of the settlement, VPD will implement recommendations aimed at addressing unreasonable force, enhancing community partnerships, developing policies on pretextual stops, revising training on investigatory stops, and ensuring bias-free services. The agreement also includes provisions for responding to calls involving individuals in mental health crisis and conducting ongoing audits of incidents involving officer use of firearms.

The settlement agreement replaces a previous stipulated judgment that had remained unsigned by the court for over six months, allowing for immediate implementation of the agreed-upon reforms. DOJ will oversee and enforce the terms of the settlement, with the authority to take legal action if necessary to ensure compliance.

The agreement reflects a commitment to modernizing policing practices in Vallejo and aligning them with contemporary best practices to promote constitutional policing. By working collaboratively with VPD and the city, Attorney General Bonta's office aims to ensure a fair, thorough, and transparent process in implementing the reforms outlined in the settlement agreement.