We have created this webpage to provide information with openness and transparency, and to facilitate dialogue with the West Sacramento community we so proudly serve.  On this site you will find information about our department relative to police reform initiatives, use of force statistics, demographics, and training. Links to relevant reference documents are provided throughout this page.

21^st Century Policing:

The West Sacramento Police Department has embraced the principles of the Obama-era “President’s Task Force on 21^st Century Policing” since it was published in 2015.  The initiative is based on six pillars for policing practices to promote effective crime reduction while building public trust, including:

• Building Trust and Legitimacy
• Policy and Oversight
• Technology and Social Media
• Community Policing and Crime Reduction
• Training and Education
• Officer Wellness and Safety

At the end of each quarter, the department presents the West Sacramento City Council with a report on progress towards each of the 21^st Century Policing pillars, in addition to other statistical data related to California’s Racial and Identity Profiling Act of 2015.  View Quarterly and Annual Reports.

My Brother’s Keeper Alliance:

On June 3, 2020, former President Obama called on Mayors to pledge to address police use of force policies in their cities as part of an initiative known as the “My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.” Mayor Cabaldon recently signed onto this commitment on behalf of the City of West Sacramento. Participation in the initiative includes making a commitment to take the following actions at the local level:

• Review police use of force policies.
• Engage the community by including a diverse range of input, experiences, and stories in the review.
• Report the findings of the review to the community and seek feedback.
• Reform the community’s police use of force policies.

Review of Department Policies—8cantwait Initiative:

Campaign Zero has created an initiative called “8cantwait” that promotes eight recommendations to address issues related to use of force. The following summarizes how our existing policies compare to the 8cantwait recommendations (relevant sections from our Policy Manual are also cited and linked as excerpts).

Ban chokeholds and strangleholds – These techniques are not permitted in our policies. Previously, carotid holds were only allowed by trained officers in situations involving violence or physically combative individuals.  California law (SB 230) requires that “an officer may only use a level of force that they reasonably believe is proportional to the seriousness of the suspected offense.” Any excessive force beyond this requirement is unreasonable.  As of June 10, 2020, the department has suspended the use of carotid holds to allow for further evaluation of this policy and in consideration of pending State legislation to disallow their use.

View Policy 300.3.5: Carotid Control Hold

Require de-escalation – De-escalation is interwoven into the department’s operations and is included in the department’s Use of Force policy. De-escalation techniques are also included in various continued professional training topics. California law (SB 230) requires that “officers utilize de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention tactics, and other alternatives to force when feasible.” SB 230 also mandates each policy require officers to conduct all duties in a manner that is fair and unbiased. Additionally, SB 230 requires all officers be trained in alternatives to deadly force and de-escalation techniques.  The West Sacramento Police Department adheres to these requirements.

View Policy 300.1: Use of Force and Policy 300.3.3: De-Escalation

Require warning before shooting – California law (AB 392) states: “where feasible, a peace officer shall, prior to the use of force, make reasonable efforts to identify themselves as a peace officer and to warn that deadly force may be used, unless the officer has objectively reasonable grounds to believe the person is aware of those facts.” This requirement is also consistent with federal case law.  The West Sacramento Police Department adheres to these requirements.

View Policy 300.4: Deadly Force Applications

Exhaust all other means before shooting – Our policy requires officers to evaluate the use of other reasonably available resources and techniques when determining whether to use deadly force, and deadly force is only used when there is an imminent threat of death or serious injury to the officer or another person.

View Policy 300.4: Deadly Force Applications

Duty to intervene and stop excessive force by other officers – Our policy mandates a duty to intercede if any officer observes another officer using force that is unreasonable. California law (SB 230) also sets forth a “requirement that an officer intercede when present and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is necessary, as determined by an objectively reasonable officer under the circumstances.” This provision is consistent with federal law as well.

View Policy 300.2.1: Duty to Intercede

Ban shooting at moving vehicles – While our policy does not ban shooting at moving vehicles, it is only allowed when the driver poses a deadly threat. Outright prohibitions in all circumstances does not account for situations where the driver of a vehicle may be threatening death or great bodily injury to others. California law (SB 230) requires “Comprehensive and specific guidelines for the application of deadly force,” which should include guidance on the limited situations that would warrant shooting at moving vehicles. Our policy includes this guidance.

View Policy 300.4.1: Shooting at or from Moving Vehicles

Require use-of-force continuum – Law enforcement agencies vary whether they incorporate a use-of-force continuum.  The West Sacramento Police Department has not formally adopted a use-of-force continuum, but our policies require officers to use only the amount of force that reasonably appears necessary given the facts and totality of the circumstances. AB 392 and SB 230, signed into law in 2019, substantially changed California law to require that police officers may use deadly force "only when necessary in defense of human life." 

Require comprehensive reporting each time an officer uses forces or threatens to do so – All uses of force are documented and reviewed. The department provides data regarding all officer-involved shootings and incidents involving use of force resulting in serious bodily injury to the California Department of Justice. The department recognizes and respects the value of all human life and dignity without prejudice to anyone. Vesting officers with the authority to use reasonable force and to protect the public welfare requires monitoring, evaluation, and a careful balancing of all interests.

View Policy 300.5: Reporting Use of Force and Policy 300.5.1 Notification to Supervisors

View a complete copy of the West Sacramento Police Department Policy Manual.

Use of Force Statistics:

Most recent use of force statistics can be found in the Annual Report. 

Demographics:

Our aim is to have a department that is diverse and reflective of those who call West Sacramento home. While we work to achieve that goal in our ongoing recruiting efforts, we are also working to develop interest in law enforcement as a career among the youth in our community.

Current demographic breakdowns for the city and department can be found in the Annual Report.

Training Topics:

The department invests heavily in training and maintains a standard well above the minimum California Peace Officer Standard and Training (POST) requirements and in alignment with CALEA Accreditation Standards. View information about our department’s CALEA Accreditation.

Our officers train consistently on topics such as the appropriate use of tools and tactics, legal updates, and a variety of other skills, including anti-bias training, de-escalation efforts, and more. Our Training Committee continuously evaluates training procedures to ensure that they remain in line with national best practices. De-escalation is one of our core philosophies and has been incorporated into multiple training topics.

Recently, the State of California has required law enforcement to post their policy, procedures, and training on their websites. As part of our Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation with CALEA and our commitment to transparency, our Policy Manual has been posted publicly on our website since 2017. The department has already completed the California legislative mandate related to training that further defines the use of deadly force only needed to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to officers or bystanders. This legislation, called the California Act to Save Lives, is setting a standard for law enforcement across the nation.  View information about the California Act to Save Lives.