California Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2020 signed a law that shifted the responsibility for investigating fatal police shootings from local law enforcement and district attorneys to the state attorney general’s office. The measure was enacted as national protests over police accountability continued following the murder of George Floyd.
Lawmakers who supported the law argued that an independent outside agency would bring greater credibility and speed to the process, according to the Associated Press. They said it would eliminate potential conflicts of interest that can arise when police departments or local prosecutors investigate agencies with which they have close working relationships.
Police accountability advocates enthusiastically endorsed the legislation, the AP reported. Then-Assemblymember Rob Bonta was a leading champion of the bill.
Bonta became California attorney general the following year, in 2021. After taking office, he pledged to complete all investigations into fatal police shootings within 12 months.